Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate to the member to take the padlocks off. The CEO is appointed by the government, just as senators are appointed by the government, and we can see what happens there. We just have to look at the legislation on climate change. I would say to my colleague that we are not advocating just for the postal workers today, but for every worker.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  I have not.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  Mr. Speaker, it is a race to the bottom for the Conservatives, as I said in my speech. It is awful that they are picking sides. The Conservatives have been talking about the economy. If they are really worried about the economy, why are they giving big corporate tax cuts? They are looking to support their corporate tax cuts.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to once again speak on this critical issue. The workers of Canada Post have been locked out. That is right: they have been locked out. They are not on strike. They have been locked out. This is not a strike. The workers are “locked out”, a term should give us all nightmares.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  Mr. Speaker, my colleague is exactly right. These people have been locked out and that is why Canadians are not getting their mail. Could my colleague could talk about the outrageous bonuses that the CEOs receive? The company wants to reduce the wages of the workers who are busting their backs out there and yet CEOs are getting big bonuses.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  Madam Speaker, I listened intently to my colleague's comments, and I also listened to the question from the other side of the House. It is obvious that the other side of the House does not realize that the union is the members; the members own the union, and the union members are workers.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  Excuse me, I did not mean to say her name. I apologize on that--

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  What I would say is that this government can come to its senses and remove that wage from its bill, and we will talk.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  Mr. Speaker, as we indicated before during this debate, we are not going to show the government all of our cards at this point. We have indicated what we are willing--

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  Mr. Speaker, as we have indicated, we have actually provided some information with respect to a hoist motion. If the government is willing to really negotiate and look at the wage rates, then we are certainly open to its suggestions and will continue down that road. Obviously the government is not willing to move at this point, and that is why we are still here today.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from my colleague, and she is absolutely right. The government is trying to impose a lower wage rate than what Canada Post actually wanted to give them, while the CEOs are actually making a pile of money. In 2010 it was $497,100, plus a 33% bonus.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  It all comes back, Mr. Speaker, to the first part when I was offering congratulations about being elected. Usually when I stand in this House to offer some remarks on a piece of legislation, I say that I am happy to speak to the bill. Today nothing could be further from the case.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  Mr. Speaker, I love your haircut. This is my first opportunity to deliver a speech in the 41st Parliament, and I would like to begin by thanking the voters of Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing for the vote of confidence I received in my re-election. No one can say we did not notice.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  I will do just that. As I indicated, this is about arbitrary decisions. The chief goes on to say, “My council and I much favour co-operation and collaboration over unilateralism and arbitrary government action which inevitably result in frustration and confrontation.” That is where my remarks link to Bill C-6.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  Mr. Speaker, the minister talked about the serious situation. He talked Canada Post being profitable. We know it is profitable and it will be even more profitable. Given the technological changes that are going through, it will have a profit of an additional $250 million. How serious is it that we are dealing with this issue today?