Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did hear the news article earlier this morning by a CBC announcer, where he had implied that we were advocating a strike. Nothing could be further from the truth. I think I make it clear yesterday that this government believes in the collective bargaining process, has made a sincere and conscious effort to negotiate with the union to reach an appropriate compromise where we all take our appropriate reductions. I think that's what we tried to conclude. Unfortunately, we couldn't come to an arrangement with the UNW, but both parties agreed that we would present our final offer and that the union would take it out to its membership. I'm told and advised that the union will be going out. It's imminent that the union will go out with the final offer any day now. I'm also advised that they will be recommending to their membership to vote no. What I said was, if there is a no vote, it will then mean we have to go to mediation, which takes about 21 days. I want to make it clear that the offer we made to the union was a final one. There are no additional dollars other than what we brought to the table earlier last month.
A no vote, to me, means a strike vote. I think that would be unfortunate, but that's what it means to me and perhaps that's what my colleague's constituent was alluding to today. I think it's very important to explain to the public at large and to this House that this government is not advocating a strike. Thank you.