Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I must say I agree with my colleague Ms. Sims. This is a private member's bill which introduces fundamental changes to the system, and will govern whether federally regulated employees will be able to unionize or not. We are going from one system to another, and it will have consequences on whether or not working men and women can give themselves a collective tool to improve their working conditions and lives. This is very important. After all, it affects 10 % of this country's workers.
We think we need more time to study this change and hear what people have to say on the concrete consequences this bill will have on peoples' lives. They could let us know what the consequences, advantages and disadvantages of this change in the system have been in Ontario or British Columbia. I think Ms. Sims could tell us about the change in her province. We also need to know about specific voting provisions in this bill, and whether they need to be amended or improved.
We feel that two-and-a-half hours is a very short period, even in a parliamentary context. We need more time to study this bill and discuss it in committee, to analyze it properly and see what its consequences will be on—