Premier and Minister, 

 Freedom of Association is one of our most well established 
 international human rights standards. It is included in the Universal 
 Declaration of Human Rights, the covenants of the United Nations, the 
 constitution of the International Labour Organization and has 
 recently been reaffirmed by such politically disparate organizations 
 as the World Conference on Human Rights, the World Social Summit, the 
 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the World 
 Trade Organization and the International Organization of Employers. 
 The standard establishes, in the words of the U.N.'s International 
 Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that "Everyone shall have the 
 right to freedom of association with others, including the right to 
 form and join trade unions for the protection of his interests." 

 Your Prevention of Unionism Act which expressly forbids workfare 
 participants "to join a trade union" violates this international human 
 rights norm placing your government in the company of a very few others 
 world wide who openly stand against this cornerstone of democracy. It is 
 also contrary to Canada's obligations as a member of the UN and the ILO 
 and it almost certainly offends Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 

 I urge you to withdraw this most offensive act immediately.