Thank you, Chair.
I hear what Mr. Adler has said on both NDP-7 and NDP-3, and I guess I should address them specifically.
He said in respect to proposed amendment NDP-7 that this could somehow prohibit volunteers in the federal sphere. I beg to differ. This would only provide a very clear prohibition on the use of unpaid interns outside the conditions and requirements we're now setting out in clause 89. I don't see why we would deny our interns the clarity they deserve in this area. Other workers have it. Why are interns who aren't paid to be treated so differently?
That also goes to the proposed amendment NDP-3. I think Mr. Adler quite properly says that regulations can address many of these issues. That's absolutely true, but again, why would we deny these often young people clarity in the statute about the three protections we've listed, namely, protection against losing their job if they are injured, ability to complain about their employer, and sexual harassment?
To suggest that somehow it will be fragmented, I don't accept. We can amend the act later if we want to add more, or indeed make regulations, but to deny them the clarity and certainty.... The rules of the game being established for employers in a federal statute to me is good public policy, pure and simple.