Human Resources committee  Well, I haven't read the article, but I could say this. We've had minority parliaments before. The truth of the matter is, the way it works, as I understand it, is that the opposition parties, if they wish to combine and pass legislation, unless it's a confidence measure, can do so.

Human Resources committee  I agree. I echo that. I'd like to offer one point to the concerns addressed on my right here, which is that aside from the business impacts, which you've heard a great deal about from this group, the point of the law is to stop people from working. It prevents bargaining unit members from re-entering the workplace during a strike.

Human Resources committee  It won't be the apocalypse. I don't believe it will. We have to remember that federally regulated employers are not all huge businesses. There are many small and medium-sized businesses operating in support roles in the aviation and shipping sectors and so forth, which may be federally regulated.

Human Resources committee  Simply put, I would think it's important for the committee to examine the profile of federally regulated businesses to see that they're not all gigantic corporations that appear to be immune to economic pain. That's all. There are many smaller employers in this zone. Our constituency of human resource professionals--30,000 or more across the country--work in every conceivable kind of workplace, not just federally regulated ones, of course.

Human Resources committee  With respect, if the concern is violence at the picket line, essentially the answer offered here is to ban the replacement worker to alleviate the conflict at the picket line. Honestly, fundamentally, it is no better, morally or legally, than saying, “Ban the picket line.” Essentially, if the issue is managing tensions at a picket line, you are taking an enormous stick to deal with an issue that is serious but not catastrophic across the country.

Human Resources committee  Well, I would say this. It doesn't have to be an apocalypse to be a mistake. It doesn't have to bring the sky down to be the wrong move. You're absolutely right. Dramatic rhetoric has a tendency to kind of denude the message of its quality, and it doesn't help. I appreciate that.

Human Resources committee  One consequence is you should consider the jurisdictions in question. What's under federal jurisdiction? Shipping, rail, air transport, telecommunications--these are not incidental items to our economy. They are the sinews of the economy. They are the infrastructure upon which all businesses hinge, and you've heard about that from our colleagues.

Human Resources committee  It depends on the laws. Labour laws are written for 100% of the community that is subject to them. No one is exempt, if they're subject to those laws.

Human Resources committee  It is, sir. I think strikes are always a problem. Part of the purpose of strikes is to be a problem; that is to inflict some economic disruption on each party but not to paralyze them. What's proposed here is to paralyze one of the parties to render it incapable, essentially, of operating or earning without having the same impact on the other party.

Human Resources committee  Essential services are an exception to the right to strike. You spoke eloquently about the right to strike, and I share your feeling on the subject. It is what workers have. It is the prime instrument workers have, and we don't quarrel with that, so please don't read that into anything you've heard here.

Human Resources committee  Just in response to your question, I believe that Monsieur Hogue referenced a series of studies, some of which we're familiar with, that speak exactly to the point of economic disruption in these provinces on the basis of prolonged strikes. Prolonged strikes have a severe impact on both parties to the labour bargain, particularly on workers who are on strike and on the communities in which they live and on the businesses that depend upon them.

Human Resources committee  It's booming in Alberta too.

Human Resources committee  Mr. Chair and members of the committee, thank you for hearing us today. The Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations is an umbrella group of all of the provincial human resources associations in Canada. Those provincial associations have members numbering over 30,000.