Madam Speaker, the money has to come from somewhere. That is the reality.
The bill effectively makes sure that compensation up to a cap of $3,000 is taken care of. The statistics that I have read out are that the actual amount that will likely be sought by workers will only be $1,500, statistically.
I think that all members of the House are in agreement that there must be respect for the work that people do and that they must be properly compensated. That is taken care of.
The difference between the NDP and me and particularly the Conservative Party is the recognition that somebody somewhere has to pay. If I pledge an asset and if that asset could potentially be depreciated by the amount of potential claim against that asset by workers, then that will be the value of the asset. It will be the value of the asset minus the potential claim which will be the net value of the asset and that is the amount that the lender will choose to lend.
We cannot as politicians say to a lending institution that it must lend money. That institution must make that choice. It is a voluntary choice.