Lucienne Robillard

[Government Record Of Achievements, October 21st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, in order to provide hon. members and the people of Canada with an update on government achievements, I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, a report entitled “Managing for Results 1999”, along with performance reports from 82 departments and agencies.

[Pay Equity, October 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I repeat, this government has committed to respecting the principle of pay equity. The proof of this is that we have already made payments to the union partners in connection with pay equity.

What put us on opposite sides of the question was the methodology per se. This is why it was so important to ask the courts to examine the matter. Now that we have the decision, we are going to examine it very carefully and we are then going to reach a decision accordingly.

[Pay Equity, October 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge that public servants are hoping for a rapid conclusion to this matter, because there have been discussions on it between ourselves and our union partners for some years now.

We have just received a very important decision, as we wished clarification of section 11 of the act, and now with this decision we have it.

I believe it is totally normal for a responsible government to take a few days to examine the decision before taking a position, and I can assure our friends the public servants that this is what we will be doing.

[Pay Equity, October 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I do understand why the hon. member speaks about being bizarre. It is because we are speaking here about a human rights issue and that is why perhaps he does not know about it. It is a question of human rights and that is why it is so important.

The problem that we have is not on the principle but on the methodology. That is why it is so important to look at it very closely to understand the impact. As a responsible government we will act when we have all the information we need.

[Pay Equity, October 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I repeat, equal pay for work of equal value is the basic principle here. I know that the Reform Party does not recognize this. It was in its electoral platform that it would scrap that principle.

The Liberals believe in that principle. That is why that judgment is so important. We will now take the time to study it very closely.

[Pay Equity, October 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, our first step is to look at the judgment that we will receive from the federal court. We have to study it because the impact of it on our public service is really important. Let us look at the judgment. We will make a decision about it and then look to the future.

[Pay Equity, October 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the concept of equal pay for work of equal value is a human right that the Reform Party members do not know. It is a social concept that they do not accept. We accept that concept and will carefully look at the judgment to respect the principle of that concept.

[Pay Equity, October 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, again, we support the principle of pay equity, of equal pay for equal work.

That being said, we have just received the ruling today. It is perfectly normal for a responsible government to not only take time to read the ruling, but also to analyse its impact, so as to make a well-informed decision. And this is what we will do in the coming days.

[Pay Equity, October 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I formally undertake to respect the principle of pay equity.

That having been said, we must be allowed the time to go through the decision carefully in order to understand the impact and to conduct the necessary consultations. However, I can tell public servants that they will hear what this government plans to do in a few days.

[Pay Equity, October 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this ruling is very important for all federal public service employees. Therefore, it only makes sense that, as a responsible government, we would take time to analyse it. I can assure you that we will then act.

I can understand that affected employees are somewhat anxious about the government's eventual decision, but I would ask them to wait a few more days, to allow us to choose the appropriate direction.