Mr. Speaker, I know it is difficult for NDP and Liberal members of the House who have unreasonable prejudices and misconceptions about Reform to give any credit.
I can assure the people of the country that the official opposition has a commitment to protecting the interests of workers no matter what the myths and the misconceptions are on the other side.
We understand why they want to see everything in black and white. That is simply not the case. Reformers are workers. Reformers are union members. Almost half the union members vote for Reform in federal elections. We are committed to their protection and that is exactly what we are trying to do.
The Sims report which gave rise to this piece of legislation states explicitly:
—replacement workers can be necessary to sustain the economic viability of an enterprise in the face of a harsh economic climate and unacceptable union demands.
The report also notes:
It is only in exceptional circumstances that replacement workers are used for an inappropriate end.
That is what the report of the government indicated. We need to make sure there is not a ban on replacement workers. The legislation, given the history of the board, will lead to that. If it does, it will cause untold hardship and unfairness for workers.