Mr. Speaker, as a former journalist with the Société Radio-Canada in Montreal, I would like to bring to the attention of the House the labour conflict causing the disruption of television and radio broadcasts throughout the regions of Quebec and in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Société Radio-Canada locked its employees out on March 23 and since then, all public affairs programs, such as
Zone Libre, Le point , La facture , and Enjeux , have been suspended; this, right in the middle of the crisis in the Middle East.
Three weeks after being locked out, employees are still in the street. They came to meet with us today.
How can this situation be justified? The crown corporation must explain to Liberal members from Quebec and New Brunswick why it has maintained the lockout, despite the fact that negotiations have resumed.
It is important that both the English and French networks of the CBC are treated fairly. The current negotiations represent a real opportunity to do this.