Mr. Chairman, I do not want the debate on this issue to go on forever, but I would like simply to point out one thing. This is not a vote that was accepted by the Bloc Quebecois because the unions requested it, it is an amendment that is being moved. The government recognizes this by voting for the amendment, because if this was just an issue of union position, the government would be against it. Therefore, the government recognizes this.
When the two components of the amendment are considered, it is obvious that the government had not provided for such a change in its bill. If there had not been a proposal from the NDP and our support to ensure its understanding, I do not think that the government would have accepted it, and I congratulate the government today for having accepted it. But it should also be remembered that there are two components. It is said that the negotiations must be carried out in accordance with the Canada Post Corporation Act, and by taking into consideration the need for efficiency, for an increase in productivity, and for application of standards, but also the importance of good labour-management relations between Canada Post and the union.
In all this, it is not just an issue of unionism, it is not just an issue of management. For several years, people at Canada Post have been trying to build new labour relations. There have been experiments with a schedule to the agreement whereby mail delivery could be done by vehicle, and the postal workers' union has repeatedly requested that these measures be implemented.
Like the minister, I would like to emphasize that we have succeeded in saving rural post offices by reversing the Conservatives' policy of unscrupulously shutting down rural post offices. But this is not to say that in the bill that we will be voting on today, it is quite normal that negotiations be carried out under the Canada Post Corporation Act and not according to the rules of the market. I think this is a victory not only for unionized workers and the union, but also for the employer and for every Quebecker and every Canadian, and I hope that with this, we will have a postal organization where, after the results of the negotiations, the environment will be increasingly better.