Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Harvey, the matter I would like to discuss with you may not be directly linked to Bill C-33, but it is certainly a current issue. I thought it was important to raise it with you.
A few years ago, I attended a press conference with some union representatives who were condemning the transfer of employees from the railway control centre in Montreal to Western Canada. Not so long ago, something similar occurred again, this time for customer service employees, approximately 50 of whom were transferred to Western Canada.
On these two occasions, the main concern was being transferred to a region where most people did not speak French. Lots of people in Montreal speak French and lots speak English. In Western Canada, finding someone who can speak French is like searching for a needle in a haystack.
First of all, how come jobs are being transferred systematically from Montreal to the west, when we know that it will have an impact on the quality of service in French? Secondly, what is CN's commitment to Montreal? According to the terms of its privatization, CN has an obligation to provide services in French and to keep its headquarters in Montreal.