CPAC - Friday, May 24, 2024 - 10:00 a.m. (ET) - Segment #12

periods to be shorter. When I'm talking about what's happening at the port of Québec, it's serious. We're talking about Québec workers under federal jurisdiction that are currently in a lockout by their employer. They have been so for two years. And no one cares about them because the employer uses scab workers, and this would be a major change for them. We always have to bear in mind that the right to strike and the right to bargaining are fundamental rights protected by the charter, so normally the Liberals should be in favour of these rights being respected. This legislation will change everything but it should have changed before. >> The Speaker: [Voice of Interpreter]: Questions and comments. The Honourable Parliamentary Secretary. >> When I think of the legislation and the potential impact that it has, we can talk about those that are within federal responsibility, but I'd like to think that we've had the province of Quebec that the member made reference to having anti-scab legislation for many years now. So has the province of British Columbia. And I really do believe that by the national government now bringing forward this legislation and getting the support of all political entities inside the chamber, it would appear, in terms of it its passage, sends a very powerful message. And ultimately I think that it could influence other provincial legislatures to do likewise and bring in anti-scab legislation. Wondering if she can provide her thoughts on that issue. >> The Speaker: [Voice of Interpreter]: The Honourable member for Thérèse-De Blainville. >> [Voice of Interpreter]: Every province has its own jurisdiction, Mr. Speaker. And every province can decide what social progress it would like to make in terms of labour law. In Québec, we have this. 46 years later, Mr. Speaker. 46 years later the Federal Government is now saying that it's happy with what's happening. It would even be happier if the federal government said for its own employees under federal jurisdiction that they would at least have the courage to include the public service employees and to ensure that this bill comes into force right now as soon as it receives royal assent to not let this situation continue any further and the use of scab workers. There's still work to be done hoar. Thank you. >> The Speaker: [Voice of Interpreter]: Questions and comments. The Honourable member for Repentigny. >> [Voice of Interpreter]: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. First I'd like to congratulate my colleague for her speech. In terms of labour law, she is unbeatbling in this House. But when we had the first debates on this, many Bloc members questioned the Government to know why there was this famous 18-month delay coming into force after royal assent and then they said work at committee will look at this. But then they worked to reduce this period from 18 to 12 months but does my colleague know why, why, unlike all other legislation, that receives royal assent that come into force right away, this particular bill will take 12 months. At committee did they find any interesting answers to this, intelligent answers to why there is such a deadline? >> The Speaker: [Voice of Interpreter]: The Honourable member for Thérèse-De Blainville. >> [Voice of Interpreter]: Well, you asked if there are any intelligent answers. I'm not accusing anyone of not being intelligent. But I asked questions -- the minister questions regularly and I was told that the industrial relations committee needed time, time to ensure that legislation would be fully enforced. So while I don't want to cast any shade on this answer but whether you work on time between a bill that's crafted and when it comes into force, we could imagine that the government could have harnessed all the necessary resource to have the work start right away. So Mr. Speaker, there's a big difference between tabling a bill and hoping to see it implemented. Thank you. >> The Speaker: [Voice of

Interpreter]: Questions and comments. The Honourable member for Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères. >> [Voice of Interpreter]: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to congratulate my colleague on her work. My colleague in her speech set the stage and explained why there's a lack of political will to see this bill through. So in 1977, the government of Québec solved this problem, so that's 50 years ago once and for all, and so there have been efforts to bring the Federal Government up to speed. My colleague, the [indiscernible] of this house, Mr. Plamondon, back then in '77 I was still in diapers so my question for my colleague is how is it that it's taken so long? Why are we still talking about this? Why hasn't it happened and why is there still a danger that it still won't happen before giving the floor to the member for Thérèse-De Blainville I'd like to remind the member that you're not allowed to name members by their name in this place. You have to name them by their riding name or by their title. And now the answer to the Honourable member for Thérèse-De Blainville. >> [Voice of Interpreter]: Just a short answer. There may be multiple reasons, but it takes political will ultimately on both sides of the House after this many years, people are just having to make due in the labour world. This government has introduced multiple pieces of legislation that undermined worker rights. So it really ultimately the answer is it takes political will to change the groundrules. Would this be the time that it gets done? Who knows, because there are workers on strike or on lockout, and they know full well that even this bill will not come into force in time to help them out. So it will just be for future situations and maybe that will be in 12 months after royal assent at the Terrellest before this ever -- at the earliest before this ever comes into force, if it ever does. >> The Speaker: [Voice of Interpreter]: We have time for a brief question. Quick question and answer. There's time for one last one. The honourable Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader. >> Mr. Speaker, if the member can just amplify the other social benefits that workers, in particular unionized workers, have brought to our country, province of Quebec and so forth, through the advocacy of good, solid social programs. >> The Speaker: [Voice of Interpreter]: The Honourable member for Thérèse-De Blainville in 45 seconds. >> [Voice of Interpreter]: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to say thank you for the question but I hope you know the answer. The union movement, since the very beginning, has made progress not only on worker rights but also has helped society progress in many ways with social justice, more social justice, more equality, more equity. They did this, the unions did this not just for workers but for every member of the public or of society. And in Québec they have marked our evolution ever since the quiet revolution where the sociopolitical context was quite different and the conflicts were bitter, they were tough, so the unions have contributed to the evolution of society. >> The Speaker: [Voice of Interpreter]: I have to interrupt the Honourable member. Her time subpoena. Resuming debate. The Honourable member for Timmins--James Bay. >> [Voice of Interpreter]: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [End of Interpretation] nonconsent to split my time with the member for Burnaby South. >> The Speaker: [Voice of Interpreter]: Is there unanimous consent for this motion? Agreed and carried. The Honourable member for Timmins--James Bay. >> [Voice of Interpreter]: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [End of Interpretation] today is a powerful day. A day that I actually never thought I would see in the House of Commons after eight efforts over the years in my time to bring forward legislation to protect workers from anti-scab action by employers to deny them their fundamental rights. And yet we are here today to bring this into law. On my way here, I learned that the International Criminal Court has now called -- the

International Court of Justice today has called out Israel for their -- the brutal genocide that is happening in Gaza and Rafah and called on them to end this horrific campaign. This is a day of justice. And I think of Martin Luther King's beautiful statement that the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice. That slogan has been used many, many, many times over the years, but what people don't often reflect on is that the bending of that arc of justice is done in the face of immense opposition. It is done in the face of threat. It is done in the face of harassment. And it is often done in the face of violence. But the arc of the moral universe will move inevitably towards justice. And I was thinking that, Mr. Speaker, 'cause my mom called me last night. My mom is a hard rock miner's daughter. In fact, her father Joe McNeil started in the Cape Breton coal mines back when Dominion Steel used to use the army against the coalminers in new Waterford and Glace Bay and they would make the men and families sleep in the winter in tents to break them. And they called them communists and they called them radicals and they called them extremists. There was nothing radical or extreme about fighting for a living wage. What was radical and extreme were the capitalist who is would use the army and put a machinegun in the church steam in New Waterford to try and intimidate working people. But that moral universe, the arc, bent relentlessly towards justice because there's a moment when you just can't put up with it anymore and you won't put up with it anymore. So yes, my mom called me last night. And my mom said to me how inspired she is because these are dark times. But my mom always sees hope. And she said to me, I was so inspired to see the young people marching out of those university commencements. University students were putting their careers on the line in the United States facing serious harassment, being called all kinds of hateful things by an establishment that wants to shut them down. And my mom said young people get did. They're not going to sit silent in the face of a genocide. Because again what bends towards justice is bending in the face of the harassment and the intimidation and the false threats that these young students are somehow extremists and radicals. There is nothing extreme about speaking up against the mass killing of children. What is extreme is going along with it. Like last night when the International Criminal Court has called for indictments against Benjamin Netanyahu nor war crimes that this -- for war crimes that this government and key ministers would be drinking wine and schnapps with Israeli leaders in Israel. Canada has a long friends ship with Israel but friends don't let friends commit war crimes. So my mom said I was so inspired by these young people who are standing up and walking out and marching in the streets. And my mother said to me I'm going to get my walker, and I'm going to go down and walk with them. My mother has never been to a demonstration in her life, but she sees the mark of the. >> The Speaker: Point of order from the Honourable member >> [Off mic] if this is relevant to the bill we're actually discussing. >> The Speaker: I will remind everyone about -- I can't even say the word. The Honourable member for Timmins--James Bay. >> I invite the Honourable member to come talk to my mom. She'd give him a few lessons in moral justice. And the reason I'm talking about my mom is my mom is a hard rock miner's daughter. And my mom taught me -- my mom always said son, do the right thing throughout your life. You know my dad said never cross a picket line. That was the family we grew up in. So when my mom calls me about justice, I listen and I think the Honourable member should listen about justice too 'cause my mom is not an extremist. My mom stands up for what is right. And we're all called to stand up for what is right which brings us to this bill. For year in, year out workers have had to fight for their basic right to be recognized. Thereafter if they are facing injustice, poor pay, they have a right to withdraw their labour. And nobody ever gave the union movement or the labour movement anything in this country.

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