House of Commons Hansard #90 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was workers.

Topics

Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021Government Orders

April 29th, 1:20 a.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I thank my Bloc Québécois colleague.

I completely agree with her that this is shameful. That is the only word to describe the events of this evening. I hope I am being clear, because this really is shameful.

Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021Government Orders

April 29th, 1:20 a.m.

NDP

Niki Ashton NDP Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that I stand with our party in fighting this back-to-work legislation. Many of the points raised by the member resonated with me.

Could she speak to the implications of this attack on workers, not just on the Port of Montreal workers, but all workers across Canada?

Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021Government Orders

April 29th, 1:20 a.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, if all workers across Canada had access to being members of trade unions, we would see more strength in our social justice movements. I think we can all say that the role of the unions has been weakened through the era of neoliberalism.

Any blow against the rights of unionized workers is a blow to the heart of what makes this a great country. There is just no question about this. Every single time we bring in back-to-work legislation, it is inevitable, no matter how much people in the government say that it is not taking sides, it clearly is, and it is taking the wrong side.

Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021Government Orders

April 29th, 1:20 a.m.

Green

Paul Manly Green Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague from Saanich—Gulf Islands for doing the research to take the evening for us.

These are essential workers. These are people who we celebrate during the pandemic and who are getting the supplies into the country. They have been clearly mistreated, and the evidence looks like the employers provoked this situation. I am wondering if she has seen any evidence that the employers knew they could take this to the boiling point and would be able to count on the Liberal government for back-to-work legislation.

Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021Government Orders

April 29th, 1:20 a.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, honestly, I do not know that we have evidence, but circumstantially, how else can we read the situation?

The employer systematically provoked the situation, and needlessly. I know that many of the Liberal and Conservative speakers have made much of the fact that they have been going so long without coming to a successful negotiation and a successful conclusion, but, and I have pointed it out to this place a few times, it is not uncommon to go a long time without a contract while they are negotiating. They are negotiating, and yet they keep working.

The fact is that in this place, in the House of Commons, we are employers, and our protective service workers went four years without a contract. They were taking job action and wearing badges, wearing ball caps or in other ways breaking the code of how they were to dress. That was the only action they could take. Members can imagine if that was not used against them, that it took four years to negotiate. It was used, and I think the RCMP took way too long to treat our workers fairly within the House of Commons. The fact that they have been talking for two years is no justification whatsoever for deciding that it could not be solved, that it could never be resolved and that it could not find a negotiated solution, and I have just—

Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021Government Orders

April 29th, 1:20 a.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

The hon. member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie.

Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021Government Orders

April 29th, 1:20 a.m.

NDP

Alexandre Boulerice NDP Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her speech and for her solidarity with workers at the Port of Montreal.

In terms of federal labour relations, does my colleague agree that back-to-work legislation should be avoided because it violates workers' fundamental rights, and does she agree that we should pass legislation prohibiting the use of scabs, also known as replacement workers?

Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021Government Orders

April 29th, 1:25 a.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie.

For the last time tonight, I want to say that I completely agree with him. We need to protect workers' rights. This balance will not work in the future if workers have no rights against employers. That is exactly what my colleague said.

Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021Government Orders

April 29th, 1:25 a.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

It being 1:25 a.m., pursuant to order made earlier today, it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith all questions necessary to dispose of the second reading stage of the bill now before the House.

The question is as follows.

That Bill C-29, An Act to provide for the resumption and continuation of operations at the Port of Montreal, be read the second time and referred to a committee of the whole.

If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to request either a recorded division or that the motion be adopted on division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

The hon. member for London—Fanshawe.

Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021Government Orders

April 29th, 1:25 a.m.

NDP

Lindsay Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

Mr. Speaker, we ask for a recorded vote.

Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021Government Orders

April 29th, 1:25 a.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #102

Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021Government Orders

April 29th, 1:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

I declare the motion carried.

Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the committee of the whole.

Pursuant to order made earlier today, Bill C-29, an act to provide for the resumption and continuation of operations at the Port of Montreal, is deemed considered in committee of the whole, deemed reported with amendment, deemed concurred in at report stage as amended, and deemed read a third time and passed.

(Bill read the second time, considered in committee, reported, concurred in, read the third time and passed)

Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021Government Orders

April 29th, 1:55 a.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

Pursuant to an order made earlier today, the House stands adjourned until later this day at 10 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 1:56 a.m.)