Mr. Chairman, I will be very brief. I want to take this opportunity on this amendment to reinforce the comments that were made by my colleague from Winnipeg North Centre and other colleagues et aussi d'appuyer la motion de mes collègues du Bloc.
When we look at the whole history of the relationship between Canada Post and its employees, that relationship in many respects has been poisoned by the absolutely intolerable interference by this government in the collective bargaining process.
Look back, for example, at the nudge-nudge, wink-wink commitment that was made by the minister from Montreal who suggested to the Canadian Direct Marketing Association: “Do not worry about it. You will not have to worry. We will send them all back to work anyway.”
How could there be any good faith bargaining? How could there be any serious negotiation in those circumstances when the employer knows full well that all they have to do is just hold out and ultimately they will be sent back to work.
What is so outrageous about this legislation is that not only are they being sent back to work, not only is the collective bargaining process being completely subverted, but they are being sent back to work with conditions of employment that are less than the employer was even prepared to offer at an earlier stage of the collective bargaining process.
I just want to reinforce our concern. We are voting against this legislation because it represents not just an interference in the collective bargaining process. That is bad enough. But it demonstrates absolute contempt for the loyal and hard working men and women who are now working for the Canada Post corporation.