I would like to answer your question by suggesting a consideration of the question from another standpoint. The concern of business people in Quebec is as follows: we already have this act and there is no evidence thus far to show that it has had the desired effect in Quebec. Ms. Lavallée had some figures, but I have others that show the opposite. I could, for example, give you as an example the strike at the Société des alcools du Québec that affected 3,800 employees. The strike began on November 11, 2004 and lasted three months, in spite of the legislation. A strike that opposed the Noranda Mine Workers Union—a CSN affiliate, at Métallurgie Noranda-Horne Smelter involved 500 employees. It began in June 2002 and lasted 11 months. It had been hoped that such legislation would shorten the length of strikes, but on the contrary, it did not appear to make a difference in Quebec.
Another aspect needs to be considered, and this is perhaps in response to the question from your colleague, the MP opposite. The problem being experienced in Quebec at this time is the following. We are having a great deal of difficulty in attracting our share of foreign investment in Quebec because foreign entrepreneurs and business leaders consider Quebec to be a society in which the legislation is very burdensome. The more layers of sedimentation that are added to the legislation, the more investors consider that their investments are at risk. If we lose other economic benefits, it is at least partly because of this problem. Foreign businesses and entrepreneurs hesitate to invest in Quebec and opt for other provinces in Canada. It is because of this problem in Quebec that our employers are concerned.
Let us simply consider the statement made by Donald J. Johnston, the former Secretary General of the OECD, a respectable man, who has respect and who is thoroughly familiar with labour problems. He said that the number of unjustifiable restrictions to market rules was undermining productivity and the attractiveness of the Canadian economy in the eyes of foreign investors. In Quebec, this can already be seen to be significant.
I would also add that in terms of the number of days lost per 1,000 workers—and these are recent figures—the number lost is one and a half times higher in Quebec than in Ontario on a comparable basis.