Thank you, Madam Chair.
Ladies, I would like to thank you for being here today.
I have been listening to comments made on both sides of the table. I know Ms. Davidson; she is an honest person. I think she is sincere when she says that her government is doing this to ensure that women achieve pay equity. At the same time, I wonder how the current could have been transformed to the point where that would seem to be true. If the government had really been sincere about pay equity, it would have given women the opportunity to defend themselves, it would not have abolished the Court Challenges Program and it would not be imposing a $50,000 fine on the unions when a women has to defend herself when she is unsuccessful in achieving what she is entitled to through negotiations.
Were you consulted when the government decided to include this bill in the budget legislation? Have you heard of any individuals or organizations that were? What prompted the government to respond in this way to what is such an obvious problem? Working at a school of industrial relations does not mean you are left-wing or right-wing. It is simply a matter of logic.
I think my colleagues are sincere. They believe that their government is also acting in good faith.