Debates of March 23rd, 1999

Government Services Act, 1999

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Ted McWhinney, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Laurier said that the 20th century belongs to Canada. The 21st century belongs to the member for Elk Island and people with old-fashioned values. We will join him in preserving them. We will join him in reviving the dungeons, cleaning the Augean stables, throwing in those who would stand in the way of parliamentary privilege, throwing in those who would serve a writ on a Senator in this parliament building; intolerable, sir, and a taint to our privileges and immunities.

I take the opportunity to have a discussion on Senate reform. We respect our co-ordinate institution. We love the Senate and the senators. We are waiting only for the rebuilding of this House to occupy those offices in that end of the building, to remove the red carpets, to introduce—

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. As always, I want to thank the Liberal Party for the standing ovation every time I get up to speak. I do wish to remind the member for Vancouver Quadra that he was the one who voted against his own members—

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

That is not a point of order but all hon. members will be pleased to remember that everything we say here is in Hansard and will be there to be read tomorrow.

The member for Vancouver Quadra has about 30 seconds left.

[Ted McWhinney, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

We would say to all those who are here that we are celebrating this House, its august traditions. One's understanding is there is an arrangement on both sides of the House. We have exercised it to the full. We are voting according to our conscience. We respect the opposition. We would all like to get home early of course, but nevertheless we play our part. All of us may qualify for an academy award next year.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

In a spirit of camaraderie, I seek unanimous consent to speak for 20 minutes.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is there unanimous consent for the member to speak?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Deputy Speaker]

It being 11.05 p.m., it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the motion now before the House.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Deputy Speaker]

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Deputy Speaker]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Deputy Speaker]

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And more than five members having risen:

[The Deputy Speaker]

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Division No. 358

[The Deputy Speaker]

I declare the motion carried.

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

moved that Bill C-76, an act to provide for the resumption and continuation of government services, be read the second time and referred to committee of the whole.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the bill to provide for the resumption and continuation of government services. But I would first like to say that the government's calls to reason have been heard.

I am extremely pleased to inform the House that the joint efforts of our negotiators and those of the Public Service Alliance of Canada have resulted this evening in an agreement in principle for the 14,000 blue collar workers—

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

To confirm this, I am extremely pleased to report to the House that this evening—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Order, please.

I know that all members want to hear what the President of the Treasury Board has to say.

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

I am extremely pleased to report to the House this evening that as of just a few hours ago and with much effort on the part of the government and union negotiators, we have reached a tentative agreement for striking blue collar workers.

I think this agreement in principle is fair and generous. I have always said that negotiation was our preferred solution, and I have the proof in my hand. Our determination to act in the interests of taxpayers, while respecting the interests of our employees, has borne fruit.

This last-minute agreement must not, however, sidetrack us from the reasons we are sitting at such a late hour. Canadians throughout the country have been the victims of rotating strikes by PSAC members for ten weeks now. Not only do the effects of these strikes concern the government but they were the subject of an emergency debate in the House last week.

This agreement in principle does not guarantee that the strikes will end. Union members can ratify or reject this agreement. That is the price to be paid for respecting the right to strike, a democratic right that is part of the collective bargaining process.

A responsible government cannot, however, wait for the decision of union members and we must therefore continue our efforts to ensure Canadians the return to the normal federal government services provided by blue collar workers and the maintenance of those services provided by correctional officers in Canadian penitentiaries.

In recent months, the Treasury Board Secretariat has signed numerous collective agreements with over 87% of its employees. The Government of Canada has shown on many occasions, including this evening, that it respects the collective bargaining process. This evening, the government is asking parliament to force its 14,000 blue collar workers to go back to work and to accept a collective agreement.

We are also asking parliament to adopt measures that might be necessary to ensure that the some 4,500 correctional officers remain at work and resume negotiating as soon as possible.

We want to avoid a strike and the absence of functional correctional services, which would pose a threat to the safety of inmates and Canadians.

The decision to request parliament's authorization to impose special legislation was not made impulsively. In fact, it is an agreement that will allow us to ensure the operation and maintenance of government buildings and of health services in federal institutions.

After 10 weeks, the impact of these walkouts on Canadians and on government operations is being felt.

Canadians as much as the government can no longer accept that passenger travel continues to be disrupted in the country's airports. We cannot accept either that tax and GST collections have become so much more difficult. This House should know that one million taxpayers will experience delays in their tax refunds because of these strikes.

Put simply, many low income families and many small businesses will have to wait for the refunds to which they are entitled and for which they have an urgent need.

This is not to mention the most vulnerable in our society who, every year, rely on the free services provided by Revenue Canada's tax clinics. The rotating strikes have prevented many Canadians from having access to these services.

The operations of national defence, the coast guard and public works have been considerably disrupted by picket lines and the withdrawal of services by these workers.

The strike also affects our grain exports, thus threatening an important sector of the Canadian economy, and also our international trade relations. In the port of Vancouver, dozens of ships are waiting to be loaded—