Mr. Speaker, that question was irrelevant because the chief pilot of the airline said that it is a national asset.
Why does the government propose to act today and why have been here all this time? While we all believe in the collective bargaining, at the end of the day, as the minister and all my colleagues said, it is for economic reasons. We were elected to ensure that we provided economic direction for our country from the recovery, with the economic stimulus plan and with the upcoming budget. Canadians have to ensure our country stays economically strong and that applies also to the airlines.
Why is only Air Canada and not the other airlines like WestJet, Porter all the other airlines out there? It is time for the airline industry to provide proper service to all Canadians so they can benefit and not be caught in the fighting taking place between management and the workers. That has to stop.
All of us commend the Minister of Labour and the Prime Minister for doing the right thing by ensuring that the interests of all Canadians and the economy is at the forefront. That is what we are doing here tonight and that is what we are going to continue to do.
For my hon. colleagues on the other side, including the party way at the other end that seems to be fast asleep, wake up and smell the coffee. At one point in time those members were supposed to form the government. They are no longer the national governing party because we have taken over.
This government will provide, under the leadership of this Prime Minister, what is required for all Canadians, and that is what we are doing tonight.
