Mr. Speaker, when Bill C-19 was brought in to deal with the grain handlers strike a couple of years ago we argued that the government could not legislate the problem away in a piecemeal fashion.
Because of the number of unions and companies involved in grain handling we suggested a process called final offer arbitration. Final offer arbitration works this way.
When workers and management reach an impasse that could result in a strike action an independent third party is called to intervene. Both sides make a final offer and a third party decides which of the two is the most reasonable.
That is supposed to be what is in place. Yet just two weeks ago western farmers were again held ransom as 70 weighers and samplers walked off the job at the grain terminals in Vancouver.
Although the rotating strike is now ended it may only be temporary. That is because the dispute between labour and management remains unresolved.
Farmers in Canada are demanding that this government get its act together in labour-management relations.