Mr. Speaker, on January 28, the federal government announced that it was making a lump sum payment of $111 million for employees affected by the decision to scale back operations at the Phalen mine in Cape Breton. This plan included an early retirement program, severance pay, and a training allowance.
Why does the Minister of Human Resources Development not introduce a similar program for former employees of the BC mine in Black Lake, who have had to settle for the minister's rhetoric since the mine was closed?