I think my opening comments gave a very good example of how replacement workers prolonged a job action in British Columbia for up to six years. It's concerning when an employer can drag out a process for that length of time through legal proceedings and through delays at the Canada Industrial Relations Board.
I think the whole idea of using replacement workers undermines the collective bargaining process, which is duly constituted under the laws of each province. The fact that an employer is able to use replacement workers is in contravention of the whole purpose of the collective bargaining regime in the first place. I think it's critically important that we put this into place.
There is strong evidence from various professors at schools across Canada indicating that the length of a strike is shortened when you're not allowed to use replacement workers. Common sense would dictate that this would be the case. If your work as an employer is not disrupted because you're able to bring in replacement workers, even though you're trying to negotiate with someone, where's the motivation to get back to the negotiating table? It makes sense that the length of strikes is shortened, and there's evidence to prove that.