Human Resources committee  Some of the statistics I put in my brief that relate specifically to the province of Quebec underline the fact that this has not been good for days lost and duration of work stoppages in Quebec. I believe you have another witness today from the Conseil du patronat from Quebec who can perhaps shed more light on that specific situation.

Human Resources committee  I would never compare labour relations to a boxing match. I think, as I said before, there are provisions in the existing Canada Labour Code. There is recourse to the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which is there precisely in the case when someone has a complaint or someone has a feeling that they are being dealt with unfairly.

Human Resources committee  Yes, I would agree with you. I would go back again to the whole concept of why certain industries are federally regulated. They are federally regulated because they are so important to the web of services Canadians expect, and on which that small business therefore depends. Whether you're talking about interprovincial trucking, rail service, port service, or airlines functioning, you have literally millions of businesses—and obviously Canadian society—depending on that to be well managed, on time, etc.

Human Resources committee  One of the indicators any foreign investor looks at when going into a jurisdiction, wherever it is--Canada, United States, Sweden, Singapore--is that they want to look at certain factors. What's the tax regime like? What's the regulatory situation like? What is the labour situation like?

Human Resources committee  I cannot give you the exact number.

Human Resources committee  Absolutely. Our members include many Canada-wide companies; others operate at the local level, in a municipality, or a region. There are many of them.

Human Resources committee  I do not know the exact percentage of companies that are unionized.

Human Resources committee  Of course, they are all governed by Canadian laws, when they are located in Canada.

Human Resources committee  Look, Mr. Lessard, that can be useful in some circumstances but not in others. I am simply emphasizing the fact that the Canada Labour Code currently allows for that recourse. However, as mentioned by Mr. McDermott and by others, there are restrictions designed to ensure that the authority will not be abused.

Human Resources committee  We are talking about federally-regulated companies. That is different from the Société des alcools. I am saying that with all due respect. I think that to have balance, corporate managers must have sufficient authority, should they deem it necessary, to be able to maintain certain activities for the good of Canadians.

Human Resources committee  I have a different reading of proposed subsection (2.4) than the committee member does. I say it prohibits the continuation of the production of goods and services, and that is the basis on which I have made my comments here today. If I am wrong or if the committee is proposing amendments, I would be happy to see that.

Human Resources committee  The bill—

Human Resources committee  I carefully read the bill, of course.

Human Resources committee  I think my colleague Mr. McKinstry is quite aware of the details contained in the act.

Human Resources committee  Mr. Chair, I'll go back to our reading of proposed subclause 94(2.4) and the fact that a company—and let us take a telecommunications company—cannot continue to produce their goods or services. You would therefore not have a network that would function—I'm speaking theoretically here—whereby you could provide emergency services.