There's no question that these are highly skilled, well-paid, working-class jobs that provide employee benefits at the top of the food chain. They're consistent with the top manufacturing jobs in this country and the most technical jobs in this country. The wages and benefits reflect the contribution and the type of industry they're in. That's why we can ill afford to lose these jobs.
I think about my members who work at MacDonald, Dettwiler & Associates and make satellites and build the Canadarm for the space shuttle. I can walk right through it all.
This industry is important to this country. It adds $25 billion a year to the GDP and provides over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs. You have to ask yourself whether we are better off as a nation without these jobs and without this technology. Of course, the answer is no.