Thank you very much, Kristina.
First of all, as you mentioned, these employees are not public servants, but I feel a responsibility for them because of the work they do on behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces and our members. It's really important and much valued by them.
When this labour dispute first began, I reached out and had a number of meetings with the public service union, including a number of conversations with their president. I also spoke to the CEO of the employer in this case and tried very hard to bring them together. I reached out and worked with the president of the Canadian Labour Congress, to try to get their assistance in appointing a mediator. We really felt that the best way to resolve this was at the bargaining table—that was my opinion—to keep the parties together and to keep them working on it.
I know there was some progress made in that a number of the bargaining units outside of Quebec resolved their contracts. I was, as I think you were.... We both shared disappointment that they weren't able to reach an agreement with those employees in Quebec, so we're going to continue to lean into it.
These are important people. They're not public servants. I know there is some disparity between the public service pay levels, particularly after the most recent rate settlement for those employees, and those of other employees who are not public servants but whose work is valued.
I think there's still a lot of work to do among those in Quebec. We'll continue to work with their union representatives and with anyone who will help bring the parties together to provide whatever assistance they can. I apologize: I'm not going to weigh in on what the outcomes of those negotiations are. Frankly, I'm not a party to those negotiations, as you've acknowledged.
I think it's important that we continue to do everything we can to keep them at the bargaining table to come to an appropriate and fair resolution for those workers.