Mr. Speaker, I guess you could see right into my mind as I have many questions for the minister.
First I would like to comment on the fact that in his speech the minister stated that there was an openness in the accounting of the post office and that there is no evidence of cross-subsidization between regular first class mail, ad mail and the Purolator courier business. As a matter of fact, that is not accurate. The books of Canada Post do not clearly show the separate accounting of those arms of the post office. Consequently, the statement the minister made is really not accurate.
I would also like to ask the minister to comment on a second point, one of process. It is very intriguing to me that after weeks of hesitating to intervene, now the government has gone overboard and intervened to the point of stating wage increases and the dates they are effective. That is wrong. Back to work legislation should say that there may not be a strike until there is an agreement and then there should be a mechanism to force the parties together with a mediator or arbitrator which should be binding.
If the minister has time, I would also like to know about any long term plans they have, which I doubt, after this thing is settled.