Guy Caron

[Automotive Industry, November 27th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, he did not say how.

Back in the 1980s, the GM plant in Oshawa employed over 23,000 people. It was once one of the biggest auto plants in the world. That was before NAFTA and the end of the Auto Pact, when Liberal and Conservative governments decided to stop trying to keep jobs here as they had done in the past. They told us not to worry and said the free market would take care of everything.

In times of crisis, governments lend or give public money with few strings attached. We have all seen how well that works.

However, one billion dollars are still owed by GM to Export Development Canada. Will the Liberals ask for a refund if GM cannot maintain the jobs?

[Automotive Industry, November 27th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, if there is something that the Liberals and the Conservatives have in common, it is the lack of transparency when when they bail out major corporations.

The announced closure of GM's Oshawa plant is a tragedy for the 2,500 workers and their families. It is also a tragedy for the community.

What is frustrating is that GM is not showing any gratitude for the country that pulled it back from the brink of bankruptcy. In fact, the Conservatives lent GM over $7 billion in 2009.

GM still owes Export Development Canada $1 billion on a loan it took out in 2009.

If the Liberals have no plan to save these jobs, will they at least ask that the money be repaid?

[Canada Post, November 26th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, on another matter, the Prime Minister claims to be a feminist and a progressive, but does he know that in 1981, there was a general postal strike that lasted 41 days without any government intervention?

Does he know that after those 41 days, the parties reached an agreement, and that it was the first time in the history of the federal public service that a collective agreement included maternity leave provisions?

That is what can be achieved with free collective bargaining.

Does the Prime Minister really believe today, in the House, that the union could have chalked up such an historic win if the government of the day had imposed a special law like the one it is ramming down workers' throats today?

[Automotive Industry, November 26th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, last week, Liberals gave corporations like General Motors $14 billion in various tax measures, supposedly because this would keep jobs in Canada, but today, while GM shareholders got a bump of 7%, more than 2,500 Canadian workers will lose their jobs and their livelihoods. We cannot afford billions of dollars in tax giveaways to these large companies when those same companies are pulling up stakes and leaving people out of work.

The Prime Minister has expressed his disappointment, but what concrete actions is he planning to take for these workers and their families?

[Automotive Industry, November 26th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, last week, Liberals gave corporations like General Motors $14 billion in various tax measures, supposedly because this would keep jobs in Canada, but today, while GM shareholders got a bump of 7%, more than—

[Postal Services Resumption and Continuation Act, November 24th, 2018]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 62, I move, seconded by the hon. member for Berthier—Maskinongé, that the member for Elmwood—Transcona be now heard, since he rose first.

[Postal Services Resumption and Continuation Act, November 23rd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect for my colleague from Lac-Saint-Louis, his question is a little ridiculous.

Canada Post managers knew that the government was going to intervene. If they thought they stood a better chance with a mediator, they would have already negotiated, but they refused to do so.

This bill does mention that the mediator could give more to the unions. If Canada Post managers were really worried about that happening, they would have negotiated in good faith before, but they did not.

[Postal Services Resumption and Continuation Act, November 23rd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her question.

Our respective ridings are located in rural areas. There are many postal workers with rural routes in my riding.

Earlier, someone talked about a Canada Post employee in the gallery who said that she worked 14 hours but was only paid for six. That is the type of inequity that postal workers are currently facing. That is what the union is trying to remedy through the bargaining process.

Why is Canada Post refusing to recognize that making its workers work eight extra hours without any pay is a problem?

The government wants to force unionized employees to go back to their old collective agreement, which would mean an estimated 250,000 hours of work between now and Christmas, not between now and next year. Those hours will be worked by employees in rural areas, and they will not be paid for them. That is the reality that the Liberals are imposing on us, in collusion with Canada Post. All of this is being done against the wishes of workers.

[Postal Services Resumption and Continuation Act, November 23rd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, that is a very good question. When we talk about postal banking, we know that five or six years ago, Canada Post actually asked for a report on the viability of such an option. It never made it public. A journalist got the document through an access to information request, and actually that document revealed that postal banking would be a win-win situation for Canadians and for Canada Post. Still, it refused to implement it. The government is doing nothing to implement it. In fact, the government is just letting the board do whatever it wants. There is no accountability from the board of directors of Canada Post. The anti-union practices we have seen in the past are still being reflected today, with the complicity of the Liberal government.

[Postal Services Resumption and Continuation Act, November 23rd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, once again, someone else did something before.

They would actually be implementing measures that would remove the right to strike from workers. They would be doing so with a Crown corporation to which they have appointed the members. They should be accountable right now, not passing the buck everywhere else. They are responsible for this, and they will be held accountable.