Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thanks to the witnesses for being here and taking part in this important study on a bill that is historical but that can also be improved.
The 18-month lockout at the Port of Québec is really a disgrace. I also had a chance to walk the picket line there, and it was difficult to watch the replacement workers drive in to do the work of the members who were locked out.
Some members of the Videotron employees' union are here today as well. I'm somewhat amazed at the fact that they aren't here just to improve their working conditions but also to keep their jobs because jobs across the entire telecommunication sector are threatened by delocalization. We have to talk about that.
I obviously agree that no one should ever cross a picket line. However, the Quebec and British Columbia acts provide for exceptions.
Under this bill, subcontractors hired before the notice to bargain is sent may continue doing their jobs in the same manner, to the same extent and in the same circumstances as they previously did. Consequently, if a person watered plants for 10 hours a week, that person must continue watering plants for 10 hours a week. That person may not be asked to make telephone calls or maintain computers. However, as you noted, Mr. Hancock, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board must have the resources and means it needs to conduct investigations on the ground to verify whether the act is being complied with.
I would like to hear what both of you have to say about that, but also about what happens in cases where subcontractors are brought in from outside the country, which is increasingly common in the telecommunications field. Doesn't that trouble you, in addition to the use of subcontractors itself?