I did not vote for that bill because this is a much better bill. If the member will read them both, he will see it. Perhaps that may be a difficulty for him.
At any rate, with regard to this legislation and the response of the official opposition, Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, may I say that it is very interesting. I stand here as the member for Halifax, the city with the great port which needs the railway to ensure that the port continues to bring prosperity to the people of the metropolitan Halifax area, to Nova Scotia and to Atlantic Canada.
It is very interesting that we hear from the members of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition all this rant about the workers. The hon. member for Bourassa who just spoke chose to come to this country and we are so glad he did. While we are glad he chose to come here in one way or another, the answer too is that he obviously chose Canada because of the way we do protect workers but we protect the peace, order and good government of this country as well.
A rail strike such as this is not the kind of protection or the kind of activity that means this country will continue to be prosperous. Look at a few of the things that are taking place because of this industrial action.
There is the loss of $10 million per day to Canadian National alone, a permanent loss of rail traffic to truck, therefore sapping the financial viability of our rail system. As one of the members opposite actually said-and I agree, do not faint-once these jobs are gone, it is very difficult to get them back. There is also the adverse image of Canada as a reliable supplier to world markets, Japan, for example.
As I said before, the problems of the ports and most particularly the port of Halifax in my estimation is something we could no longer let go by the boards.
May I offer my congratulations to the Minister of Labour who has certainly come through in an amazing way. She has had her baptism by fire as a new member in this House. We on this side are very proud of the minister. We want to congratulate her. I certainly want to congratulate her on behalf of my constituents and the people of Nova Scotia.
She has been a lucid voice in an otherwise overly emotional debate. The minister stood up this weekend and prior to it and asked people to do the right thing, to think of the country as a whole and to come back to the table. Only when all else failed did she say that the answer was back to work legislation.
The minister met with representatives of all companies and unions to urge them to resolve their disputes, or at least to agree on a binding process to resolve their disputes. When the parties reported that they were unable to reach such an understanding, when they reported that collective bargaining negotiations had reached an impasse, she knew that nothing could be gained by further delay.
Most of these collective agreements expired on December 31, 1993, well over a year ago. For some others it was as long ago as December 31, 1991. Extensive federal assistance has been provided to the parties including the assistance of conciliation officers and a conciliation commissioner. The process has been going on for well over a year.
This government acted and will continue to act in the best interests of the people of Canada. It does not act with a hidden or secret agenda. It is absolutely necessary that the railway business continues, that it goes on for the proper commercial work to be done in this country. Whether one lives in my riding of Halifax with a port, or anywhere across this great country, the railway has been and will continue to be an absolutely essential link in the commerce of Canada.
To do this is not in any way, shape or form-as has been suggested in a manner I find distasteful-contrary to the interests over the long term of Canadian workers. It is not so and cannot even for a moment be considered to be so because the health and prosperity of this country is the first and foremost concern of this government, beginning with the Prime Minister and working down to everyone who sits on this side of the House.
Action on the railway bill is absolutely urgent because CN is shut down, VIA is shut down, and CP is operating at 85 per cent capacity or less. The impact grows with every day and every hour. That impact is bad for every Canadian from coast to coast.
Grain shipments are compromised. Auto plants depend on just in time deliveries that will not make it. Layoffs can be expected to start today. That is not very good for the workers of Canada. I would like to know what my hon. friend on the other side would say to that.
Raw materials movement will be minimal while this goes on. As I said before, our reputation as an exporter is at stake. That is certainly not good for anyone who works in this country, be it someone who labours in the particular field or be it a member of Parliament. People are affected, especially commuters around Toronto and Montreal. With 50,000 who use commuter rail every day, the result is traffic chaos in two of our major cities.
Is there any value to waiting any longer? The process between the parties is at an impasse. Negotiations, as I have said, have gone on in the shortest of cases for over a year, in the longest for over three years. There have been conciliation officers and a conciliation commissioner. The minister has listened and has
made a decision. The government and members on this side of the House support her decision and we will continue to do so.
This is an absolute necessity for the people of Canada, for the health of this country. I am proud to stand and support this legislation, to support this government, and most particularly to support our newest Minister of Labour.
