Mr. Speaker, I have two very serious questions to put the minister. I appreciate his speech this morning.
One thing I have not heard in the discussions of the proposed merger is the people of Canada, through the Government of Canada, taking an equity position in a new airline to ensure decision making at the board. Is this something the minister would be open to? If not, why not?
Second, if there is a concern across the country it has to do with the jobs that will be lost. What safeguards would the minister provide us today that those jobs will be protected to the extent which is humanly possible?