Mr. Speaker, I was surprised to hear the speech made by the member who just spoke, to see how he focused solely on the need for services without blaming Post Canada for not respecting its employees in these negotiations.
Several members raised this issue, especially NDP and Bloc members, and they showed that these negotiations were nothing but a farce. In fact, the dice were loaded before the negotiations even started, and they pretended to negotiate. We ended up with a dispute that we know was caused in part by the government. The minister's speech a few moments ago confirmed—he addressed the House as if he were president of the Canada Post Corporation—that there was collusion between Canada Post and the minister responsible, whereas the minister should have been trying to bring the parties closer.
The member put all the blame on the union who went out on strike and complained about services not being provided to the public. But I think he was rather lenient towards the government in his speech and I want to know what kind of work atmosphere he thinks will result from the fact that the rates of pay provided for in this legislation by the government are lower than what Post Canada had offered. With regard to salaries, Canada Post had offered more than what is provided for in the bill.
Does the member not think that this is unusual in this kind of legislation? We must start from the offers that were on the table and ask the mediator to try to bring the two parties together, but not before the conciliation process begins with this new mediator appointed by the minister under this bill. Our motion to amend clause 8 of the bill so that the mediator can be chosen in consultation with both parties was rejected.
So I ask the member if he would agree to recommend to the government that the mediator be appointed in consultation with both parties and that the rates of pay provided for in the bill be the same as those offered by Post Canada.