Human Resources Committee on June 1st, 2020

[Jerry Dias]

Yes.

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

Every newspaper in this country has cut staff while waiting for this committee to get up and going.

What are you doing about this, representing the newspapers?

[Jerry Dias]

I'm doing a heck of a lot more than you have done as a member of Parliament. The simple reality is, your party, your newspapers—

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

You talk about me.

[Jerry Dias]

Excuse me—

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

You know I was a member of your organization for 40 years.

[Jerry Dias]

Not as a journalist. You were a member of the CEP for all those years

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

I was also a member of Unifor at CTV.

[Jerry Dias]

Good for you. How long ago was that?

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

You should look it up. You have my $1500—

[Jerry Dias]

Listen, I'm used to dealing with—

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

On a point of order—

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

Four years ago, I left.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Hang on a second, Mr. Dias. Hang on a second, Mr. Waugh.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

I can't hear either one of them. Could they please stop talking over each other?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Okay, Mr.—

[Jerry Dias]

Does he have an intelligent question for me?

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

I am wondering what Unifor is doing for its employees.

[Jerry Dias]

We are doing everything we can to push the government. You will find that I'm working very closely with the industry, trying to find a way to get the federal government to tax Google and Facebook in order to stop the carnage of the industry.

I have to say that at least you can have this conversation with the government. The previous Conservative government wouldn't even answer the phone.

So look, my friend, do you have an intelligent question for me?

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

I do.

Last week, Postmedia laid off 40 employees. The union said they wouldn't agree to the salary reduction and that's why the company laid off the 40 employees.

[Jerry Dias]

I think you will find out that there was a solution in play. The layoffs that were announced in Toronto were cancelled, and I fully expect that the layoffs announced out west will also be cancelled.

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

Well, that's good.

[Jerry Dias]

By the way, the majority of the layoffs came from the non-union newspapers. What did you do for them?

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

What are you doing for small—

[Jerry Dias]

What did you do for them?

I'm doing everything I can, by the way. At least I'm having a voice.