Evidence of meeting #53 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was strike.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Thank you, Mr. Albrecht.
That is the last round of questions.
Ms. Davies asked for one question. You can have a quick question, Ms. Davies, and then we'll wrap it up.
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
I just want to say that I don't think there's any dispute that a social agreement with the aboriginal community, and the benefits of work and a major employer, are very important. That's not what we're debating here today; we're debating whether or not we need to have a bill that disallows replacement workers.
We've heard a lot about how this will make a balanced situation unbalanced and tip the scale the wrong way. I'm curious, when there's a lockout by the employer and the unionized members are forced out, does the union get to say whether or not the members stay there? I don't think so.
So when it goes the other way and there's a lockout, there's no right of those members to stay on the job, is there?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Of course, you wanted to ask a tough last question to finish, didn't you?
Mr. Atkinson.
President, Canadian Construction Association
I was going to say those employees are still allowed to work elsewhere. In the bill that's being proposed, even the employees who don't agree with the union can't cross the picket line.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Okay, thank you very much.
Just before I thank all of our witnesses for being here today, I do want to remind everyone that if there are any witnesses you would like to see when we talk about Bill C-36, Bill C-269, or Bill C-278, could you get those to the clerk by Tuesday at noon. Christine will be sending out a notice to that effect, but it is Thursday now and we'll be heading to Friday and Monday. And remember there are the amendments for Bill C-57 as well, but you do have until Wednesday at noon to get them in.
Once again, I'd like to thank all the witnesses for being here today, and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules.
The meeting is adjourned.