Debates of Oct. 29th, 2003

Marriage Act

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague admitted that the company had closed its doors. We want to have it reopened. The government knew that Irving would apply for decertification and the Minister of Labour was informed of that, but she was travelling on Irving company planes, as were other government ministers.

For example, when the government paid $55 million for the rationalization of the Saint John shipyard, did it invite unions to sit at the same table to hear what they had to say and to work with them on this rationalization exercise? No. They were left on the sideline. The company chose decertification. The government was aware of that, and I find it unfair.

We want to see the deal. If the government has nothing to hide, than it can make that deal public. That is what we want.

[Serge Marcil, Liberal, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague should not try to throw red herrings or to steer people in the wrong direction or to talk about a scandal when there is none. We are talking here about workers who lost their jobs, and we are trying to do something to help revive this site by finding a new vocation for it.

When a company want unions to be decertified, that is not the Government of Canada's problem. This is an industry matter. I trust the workers. We trust the president of these workers' union. Everyone knows that if this site is revived with a new vocation, workers will be hired and unionization will happen automatically.

There is nothing to hide. Everything is crystal clear. Two governments have decided to work together to revive a site which, at this time, has no vocation.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)]

The motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 7:34 p.m.)