Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I do understand the reason why. I differ somewhat in what my friends have said, because I do understand the reason you were intending to and did in fact cancel today's meeting, especially having regard for what has taken place recently with CN. But I do also support the gist of Mr. Bell's motion, and I think it's a good motion. We have worked well as a committee and we've been very clear, as a government, that we take as job number one the safety and security of Canadians. All of us at this table think that is the most important job we can have, and that's why all of us on this side of the table have supported all measures to go towards that objective.
At the same time, we do have a serious issue in front of us and we do not want to see our economy stalled. We do not want to see any interference in labour negotiations between the company and labour, because nothing is more important. To that end, I'm wondering if Mr. Bell would consider a friendly amendment—and I'm not sure exactly how he would like this worded or if he would consider it—that if any issues are brought forward that refer to a labour issue or to a labour dispute, they would be ruled out of order, either as a question or an answer, by the chair. That is the government's only concern in this.
We should not be put in the middle of a labour dispute or a labour negotiation, and this venue, this committee, and this government and all members of this House should not be used as pawns in any way, shape, or form that would disrupt the labour negotiations that would move people forward towards a resolution. We do not want to be seen as being put in the middle of that. We do not believe that would be in the best interests of Canadians, nor in the best interests of the safety or security of Canadians, and as such that is our concern.
I would suggest a friendly amendment whereby if a question or answer is directed towards a labour issue and not a safety issue, it would be ruled out of order by the chair and be dealt with accordingly, because I do not think that Canadians want us involved in the middle of a dispute.