Mr. Speaker, obviously we are all concerned about the issues involving CN employees. We value these employees because of the great contribution they make to our country's economy.
The reality is that many factors are at play. It is not just the issue that the member has raised. There were issues that prolonged the strike with the dispute between the international union and the local unions. At one time it was very difficult to even know who in fact was in charge of some of the unions that were at the bargaining table and whether that process at the end of the day would have been respected by the union membership.
We obviously are concerned with the way this came about, the government's handling of this issue and the whole issue of CN's role in this. I was also disappointed with the way CN went to the Canada Industrial Relations Board and did not designate any services or any personnel as essential. I believe that was a fatal mistake. I also believe it was a fatal mistake for the unions to agree to that decision. The Canada Industrial Relations Board decision was in fact problematic and I think that has led us to where we are today. Maybe CN wanted the back to work legislation.
There has been a fundamental flaw throughout this whole process. The minister could have actually brought the two parties together to try to hammer out a deal. It is unfortunate that we need to do this but I do not think there is any other choice but to proceed.
If the hon. member of the New Democratic Party were to say that there are issues but that we will give them another week or two and then we will bring in back to work legislation, that is a different debate. However, the reality is that this gives the union carte blanche to dispute this indefinitely. If the unions want to go on strike for the next year or two there would be no problem with that because they will never support back to work legislation. It is the ultimate in hypocrisy and irresponsibility.