Mr. Speaker, I must ask the hon. member for Bourassa to remain calm and collected during today's discussions. I am sure the hon. member will recognize that what we said was very reasonable and I know he can be reasonable when he wants to. One has to catch him at the right moment.
Now, will the hon. member admit that there is an unspeakable contradiction in the fact that the government wants to put in a bill an offer lower than what the Canada Post Corporation, which is supposed to negotiate freely, was ready to make?
Will the hon. member admit that there is something absurd and that the real priority for the government—and I believe the members opposite should recognize that—is not the quality of life at work or the quality of service to the public but the need to get $200 million. This is the main guideline, the leitmotiv of the government. This is and has always been the main focus of the negotiations.
I believe we must act as enlightened spokespersons and recognize that this is an unacceptable mistake.
How dare the member for Bourassa, the minister of public works and the minister responsible for the Canada Labour Code say that they will talk, and talk less in favour of workers and make an offer inferior to the one Canada Post was ready to make? What rule of generosity are they obeying?
I will conclude by saying that we must stop those who are stuck in the confines of the limited logic of the Treasury Board.