Madam Speaker, I want to echo the words of the NDP member opposite. He has very clearly indicated that the amendments we see to section 132 which were presented to the committee are indeed the result of a tripartite agreement.
The amendments proposed by the Bloc would dismiss the work done on the tripartite agreement and would provide for a different kind of classification between one worker in the federal sector and another.
The current legislation would give pregnant women and nursing mothers the right to refuse work which they deem would be of danger to themselves, their fetus or their nursing child. As such, we feel very confident that this legislation would give adequate protection.
On issues of compensation and further review, there is an opportunity under part III of the Canada Labour Code, which deals specifically with maternity related reassignment, leave and benefits. There is an opportunity, in the spirit of labour, management and government working together, to make amendments under part III of the Canada Labour Code. The groups are working on that, and that is where these issues could be dealt with more fully.
We on this side of the House have, for quite some time, wanted to see protection for nursing mothers, fetuses and pregnant women. That is why we were so pleased to see the results of the tripartite agreement that gave, for the first time, under part II, section 132, these protections.
Rather than belabour the point, I will just echo the comments of the member opposite. He has put the situation as we see it clearly and concisely. We would urge all members of the government to support the bill as it currently is before us, and to reject the amendments brought forward by the Bloc today.