Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the minister for his comments.
However, I must repeat—and I hope he will understand—that if we had replacement worker legislation, CN management would not have adopted such a twisted strategy based on the fact that it did not need unionized employees anyway because it could just hire replacement workers from the pool of retired employees and American workers. Without that option, CN management would have sat down with the union and negotiated. I hope that the Minister of Labour understands that much at least. I have mentioned it to him a number of times. I think it is very clear.
Replacement worker legislation would not have resulted in the catastrophe the minister is talking about because what is happening right now at CN is exactly what would have happened over the past few weeks. Managers and supervisors would have been able to work. That is what they are doing now. They are filling in for essential services and the most importance services.
That being said, I would reiterate that the minister failed to show leadership. He should have intervened earlier.