House of Commons Hansard #42 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was workers.

Topics

Division No. 49Government Orders

9:55 p.m.

Reform

Deborah Grey Reform Edmonton North, AB

It is certainly a start to know what people think. I challenge the members, who are howling, to stand in their places. It is something that is scientifically balanced and reliable. It is one measure we can use to make sure people have a chance to tell their MPs what they think. I agree the MPs might be fishing or looking for some sort of result. I would hate to think that any MP would try to skew results according to their little personal opinion or their party's stand. Heaven help them if they go against that.

I commissioned that poll on Friday afternoon. We went to tender. We had a company that I had never commissioned any work with before. It went to work as soon as Saturday morning arrived. I commissioned the poll late Friday afternoon. Members can chuckle or laugh, but I do not think it is funny that government members are having a yuck-yuck time with 31 million people out of work. That is the important point.

When I wanted to find out what the people thought, I commissioned a scientific, balanced and reliable poll. Here are the results, Mr. Speaker. I know you will be interested in them as you and I are just about neighbours in Edmonton.

Edmonton North constituents were asked one very simple question. It is pretty easy to try to skew some results if ones want such and such an answer. I wanted an answer about the back to work legislation.

Basically this is what we asked. “The government is proposing back to work legislation requiring Canada Post workers to return to their jobs. Do you think they should be sent back to their jobs? Yes or no”. It was a pretty simple question. Whether a Liberal, a Tory, an NDP or a Bloc, one could probably figure out the question. It did not take up 20 minutes of people's time. I think people get pretty tired sometimes of pollsters phoning around.

Some 68% of the people in Edmonton North said back to work now; 20.9% said no; and 11% said they were not really sure. All they knew was that they were not getting any mail. They were not sure and did not understand the process of back to work legislation.

It is kind of interesting that there would be such a ruckus on the other side of the House right now. Are they decrying democracy? Surely not. The Tories would not giggle about democracy. Surely not.

Someone at the other end from Abitibi used to serve as a Tory MP and is now a Liberal MP. He took his jacket off today and dared Canada Post workers to come on down for a fight. Is that a really noble and democratic way to work around this? What a pity. What a pathetic, irrelevant thing to say.

Rather than getting into a fracas about whether we legislate people back from a strike, let us make sure we up front and do not get into that situation another four times in the next 10 years. We need final offer arbitration to make sure we do not get into these ugly situations again. It is not a very nice situation for postal workers to be in.

I talked with those 125 workers when they came into my office the other day. They wanted to get back to work.

Division No. 49Government Orders

9:55 p.m.

An hon. member

Is that the scientific poll?

Division No. 49Government Orders

9:55 p.m.

Reform

Deborah Grey Reform Edmonton North, AB

Let me just get this straight. I had 125 people through my office. That was not the scientific poll, sweetheart. That came later over the weekend. That is the idea.

Division No. 49Government Orders

9:55 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

John Herron Progressive Conservative Fundy Royal, NB

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The hon. member for Edmonton North commented on the fact that it was imperative to have proper decorum in the House. I would ask the member for Edmonton North to make her comments through the Chair.

Division No. 49Government Orders

10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

The Chair thinks that is entirely appropriate.

It being 10 p.m., pursuant to order made earlier today, it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and to put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the third reading stage of the bill now before the House.

The question is on the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Division No. 49Government Orders

10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Division No. 49Government Orders

10 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Division No. 49Government Orders

10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

Division No. 49Government Orders

10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yea.

Division No. 49Government Orders

10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

All those opposed will please say nay.

Division No. 49Government Orders

10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.

Division No. 49Government Orders

10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And more than five members having risen:

Division No. 49Government Orders

10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Division No. 50Government Orders

10:25 p.m.

The Speaker

I declare the motion carried.

(Bill read the third time and passed)

Division No. 50Government Orders

10:25 p.m.

Liberal

Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the special order made yesterday, I am pleased to move:

That this House do now adjourn.

(Motion agreed to)

Division No. 50Government Orders

10:25 p.m.

The Speaker

It being 10.29 p.m., this House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 2 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 10.29 p.m.)