Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this being the last day of session, we will be joining our families and constituents in celebration of the summer and special celebrations, starting with National Aboriginal Day this week and Canada Day the week after.
There are people in our midst who are not able to enjoy this time as much. They are members of Union Local 1574, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who work for NorthwesTel, who have now been off the job for more than a month with apparently no end in sight.
Mr. Speaker, I respect the role of collective bargaining and the need for both parties to negotiate as much as possible to arrive at the most favourable package possible for their side. I am also aware of the fact that there is very little we can do as a Legislature to influence this process. This is a very difficult situation all around, given turbulent international and national telecommunication markets and the challenges they pose for employers such as NorthwesTel.
At the same time, Mr. Speaker, I must say that I sympathize with the striking employees who feel that they must be able to keep their wages and benefits package at a level that would keep them competitive with the rising cost of living in the North for both current and new employees. To be frank, Mr. Speaker, it is very frustrating for me not to be able to do much more in this position.
I would just like to take this opportunity to let them know that I am thinking about them. I am sure that many Members are also thinking about them, and I would urge both sides to keep on meeting and talking to come up with a position that is agreeable to them.
I would also like to take this opportunity to call on this government and the federal government, because as I understand it, the federal government is in charge of the labour telecommunications market. I would urge both levels of government to pay attention to this process and assist in any way possible and appropriate to bring this dispute to a close as soon as possible. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Members a safe journey and our constituents a happy National Aboriginal Day and Canada Day.
-- Applause