I do not see what role that could play. I have been representing workers for more than 35 years now. I do not know of any worker who wants to go on strike; it is the ultimate step under our system of bargaining. It is time that the legislation was brought up to date. Strikes and lockouts are part and parcel of a labour relations system that is recognized by our laws in Canada and Quebec. These are not illegal actions; they happen. In terms of entitlement to Employment Insurance benefits, I want to stress the fact that we established a system to protect people when they lose their jobs.
We are all paying into that system, both workers and employers and these contributions are intended to protect us in cases of plant or company closures. That is part of what makes them legitimate. When a labour dispute arises when a collective agreement is to be renewed, the idea is to save jobs. Some unions provide strike pay, but the whole idea is not to be off the job, but rather to save that job, preserve working conditions and reach an agreement. If that turns out not to work, that is something the worker has no control over. The workers pay into the system for 25 or 30 years, and are working for a company that has always operated and has never had layoffs. Then, from one day to the next, the company shuts down. It is illogical for people not to be eligible for Employment Insurance benefits in those cases. That is precisely the whole purpose of these benefits.