Mr. Chairman, I would like to say to the hon. member that the fact we are sitting here shows we recognize the third party that is not here is very important. We do not like to agree on such a bill that will become a law, but it does not mean we do not have to take great care in how we resolve the conflict on the shores. We agree on the basis of the bill, but what will happen after that?
I would like the minister to understand that the mediator who was named by him, which is within his power, was representing the law and he agreed. I read it in the newspaper. His proposition was 65 cents. The minister tells me that we do not have to talk about that, but concretely it is a very good way of seeing what we are doing.
The real fact is that for everybody there this agreement between the mediator and the employees has all the chances in the world of being an agreement that will be kept by the employer and be agreed to by the arbitrator who will be named. Understanding what is going on makes me think that it will be
very hard for the parties to agree on an arbitrator. It is crystal clear when we know a little about labour relations.
With the best offers for resolving the conflict, the union will be sure that its proposition has the same weight as that of the employer. That is why in that particular case I urge an amendment to let the arbitrator choose and if he chooses the employer's offer we will at least have the possibility to choose a mix between the two. This is why the labour minister should preserve the faith in a process which is not biased. I am not saying that the labour minister is biased, but I am saying that he should preserve the process.
I am sure that in conflicts to come he will see that the mediation will not intervene in the process. The final offer process is not normally used even in places where it is now part of the law.
Those of us who are in labour relations have to know how to proceed with it. So the process itself must not be discredited. This is my main point and this is what I want to defend in the amendment I have brought forward. Otherwise the generous speech that was made is not in touch with the law being presented.