An enlightened spirit like few others on that side, the hon. member for Trois-Rivières reminded us earlier that, in recent years, nearly 50,000 jobs were eliminated in the public service. And the President of the Treasury Board was the killer of those jobs.
Was that done democratically? Was that done through negotiations? Was that done with respect for the workers? No. They were forced to take severance packages that often fall short of their expectations.
The member for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell must not forget that this behaviour is shameful and that the government should repent.
I also want to address another stigma. I feel so strongly about that that I have trouble talking about it. I am referring to the employment insurance reform. Where was the member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine when the reform was brought down? The Silence of the Lambs. Where was she when it became increasingly difficult to qualify for maternity benefits? Where was she when the qualifying conditions for first time workers became tougher? Had it not been for the Bloc Quebecois, this would have gone unnoticed. That is the reality.
I cannot say it strongly enough, it is a sad day. It is a very sad day, indeed. You have before you a concerned and sorrowful man. Rest assured that we will never accept a situation where workers, the very ones who are building this society and giving the best of themselves, are deprived of their collective bargaining rights.
Let it be known that all the members for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell of this world will not be able to stifle the Bloc Quebecois.
Among the great international tools used for the promotion of human rights, we know very well that the right to collective bargaining is at the very top of the list of rights that are recognized. I know that certain government members went to law school. How could we, as parliamentarians, accept today that workers be denied this right? We cannot accept it, we will not accept it, and we will always be there to fight that battle.
I would like to talk about another reality, a reality that the member for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel must surely understand. The member offers an image of great stability, but the boundaries of his riding are more unsettled.
Let us talk about poverty. Let us talk about what the government has managed to do concerning the issue of poverty. Where is the just society promised by Pierre Elliott Trudeau when we know that 20% of Canadians, due to government policies, are getting poorer?
Who has solutions to propose for the fight against poverty? Certainly not members on the government side. I do not even want to look at them. Who has solutions to offer? The Bloc Quebecois has. Our colleague from Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques fought to improve the employment insurance system. My colleague from Shefford had also interesting things to say on this issue.
In a few hours, I will be tabling an anti-poverty bill. What is in an anti-poverty bill? I would appreciate some sign of support for such a bill.