Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my complete and utter disappointment with the members of the official opposition and the members of the NDP. They have seen fit to allow the people of Canada to be economically devastated as a direct result of their unwillingness to co-operate with the government and its attempts to end the crippling effects of a national rail strike.
It is estimated that the national rail strike could end up costing Canada $3 billion to $5 billion.
Certainly members can appreciate the necessity of the back to work legislation tabled by the Minister of Labour on Tuesday. Even the president of the Canadian Auto Workers Union states that there is "absolutely no advantage or reason for them"-the opposition-"to delay the legislation".
Given the economic harm this strike has already brought to the people of Canada and in particular the good people of Ontario, Quebec and the western provinces, I implore members opposite to set aside their petty politics long enough to act in the public interest for their constituents and to put an immediate end to the chaos caused by the national rail strike.