Act to Provide for the Continuation and Resumption of Rail Service Operations  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for that question. Once again, we see the same approach. The basic problem is that the question is being asked in the wrong way. The Conservatives would have us believe that, if they do not intervene, the conflict will go on for ever. But it is quite the opposite.

Act to Provide for the Continuation and Resumption of Rail Service Operations  Mr. Speaker, I will try to pick up where I left off. I said that I would ask the government some questions and ponder some of the issues out loud. The first issue is the government's faith in Canadians. I was talking about the right to strike. Do I have to point out that striking is a legal and democratic way to exert what I would call pressure on negotiations to formulate a collective agreement?

Continuation and Resumption of Rail Service Operations Legislation  Mr. Speaker, then I will get back to the heart of the matter since I will have six minutes a little later, which will suit me fine. So I was on my first question, which I have here: do the Conservatives trust Canadians? The government's attitude of belittling—

Continuation and Resumption of Rail Service Operations Legislation  Madam Speaker, I should start by saying that due to a lack of time for debate, I will have to share my speaking time with the member for Newton—North Delta. The first problem I have with this debate—one that has resurfaced repeatedly over the past year—is the reduction in time for debate and discussion in this House.

Continuation and Resumption of Rail Service Operations Legislation  Madam Speaker, my question will be quite simple. It will consist of a role play of about 30 seconds. Imagine that my esteemed colleague is the CEO of a big company and that negotiations are in full swing. My question is quite simple. Would her calculation of losses be the same if she knew that the strike would last for a maximum of seven days as if she did not know?

Continuation and Resumption of Rail Service Operations Legislation  Madam Speaker, the word bargaining necessarily involves big bucks. As we know, in a negotiation, the two parties sit down on either side of the table and calculate very accurately what they have to lose before agreeing on a settlement that can be transformed into a win-win situation.

Continuation and Resumption of Rail Service Operations Legislation  Mr. Speaker, I just heard the Minister of Labour say that the government was not on either side of the negotiations, but that it acted as a third party that intervened when the talks broke off or, it seems, when they were interrupted. It is funny, but this afternoon I really feel like I completely understand the position of the Canadian Pacific workers because in this very House, where there are two parties that should be able to discuss this new bill, the government tells us point-blank after just a few minutes that it will impose closure on us, the hon. members of this House, and that we will have a limited time to discuss an approach as significant as the one the government has now used repeatedly.

Canada Revenue Agency  Mr. Speaker, first there was concern in Shawinigan and then in Jonquière, not to mention the underhanded manoeuvres surrounding the relocation of the Rimouski service centre. Things are definitely not working under the Conservatives. The future of the jobs at the Shawinigan tax centre is still up in the air and the news from Jonquière is not comforting.

Interparliamentary Delegations  Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, respecting its participation in the meeting of the APF Cooperation and Development Committee, held in Delémont, Switzerland, from April 1 to 5, 2012.

Political Party Financing  Mr. Speaker, it seems there is no stopping the Conservatives when it comes to filling the party's coffers, but never would I have thought they could stoop to using sick children. Let me explain: a resident of Trois-Rivières received a phone call and agreed to make a donation to the Shriners, a very noble cause if ever there was one.

Political Party Financing  Mr. Speaker, while we are waiting for a more complete answer or some corrections, it might be best for us to look at the matter further. The calls did not come from any old telemarketing firm. They came from Xentel, a former U.S. company that has already been involved in and found guilty of abusive practices.

Green Power  Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate the owners of the Café Morgane chain in Trois-Rivières, Suzanne and Guy Marcotte, on a wonderful initiative. In partnership with Duguay properties as well as InnovaTek and GRIDbot Canada, this week Café Morgane opened the first electric car charging station in Canada, under the banner “Puissance verte” or green power.

Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act  Mr. Speaker, for the past 10 minutes, I listened to my colleague as she tried to describe this omnibus bill in as much detail as possible. Providing a carefully considered opinion about a 400-page bill in just 10 minutes is practically impossible. It is an incredible tour de force.

Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act  Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to my eminent colleague's speech, and I was surprised at how many economic issues he addressed in so short a time. It was almost like listening to a budget debate. My question is very simple: does he not believe that it would be quite appropriate to split this omnibus bill in order to deal with various issues individually, as we should?

Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act  Mr. Speaker, the answer is quite simple. My eminent colleague is concerned with the substance rather than the form. However, the form is just as important as the substance. I have been observing the following Conservative strategy for a year. Along with the few good measures that we would be prepared to support, they try to ram through 28 totally unacceptable measures on the pretext that the measures are part of a package deal that we can take or leave.