Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to participate in the debate on Bill C-19.
This debate has not been shut down. The proof that it has not been shut down is that a moment ago the opposition concluded that there was nothing further to say about the issue because it was not putting up more speakers.
The point I am getting to, as the House will easily recognize, is that we are not shutting the debate down. While I am speaking I am actually extending the debate and giving further opportunity for hon. members to participate.
I am sure the Chair has recognized this fully. We will be able to participate constructively, explaining all the good reasons why the amendments proposed by some hon. members in the opposition are unnecessary and superfluous in some cases. The bill as presented by my hon. colleague, the Minister of Labour, is the appropriate one.
Just so the House fully understands this bill and the amendments that are proposed, this bill actually made its way through the House of Commons in the last parliament. It then went on to the other place. Unfortunately the consideration of the bill was not completed at the time of the last election and because of that the bill must start back anew.
The bill was started again, was fully considered, went through second reading and then went to committee. In committee the bill was unfortunately stalled by the opposition. As a matter of fact, opposition members filibustered the bill and we had to obtain the good services of many members of the government who stayed in the committee hours and hours listening to speeches from members.