Senator Lankin: Senator Gold, a year and a half of review by the Canada Industrial Relations Board — 82 pages of reasoning — summed up the results, remarking that, “In light of the evidence presented,” — and they say over and over again that the employer did not present hard evidence to back up their claims —

. . . the Board is not satisfied that it would be necessary to maintain all longshoring activities, as requested by the employer . . . .

They also say:

Free collective bargaining is seriously compromised if the right to strike may not be exercised by employees to counteract the employer’s economic power.

I pulled the Charter Statement that was filed at the time by you on behalf of the government. It is such a thin and flimsy document. It gives no rationale as to why section 1 is being used; it only says that section 1 can be used. Then it talks generally about economics.

The internal documents from the government show that there is a minimal economic impact of this, that there are alternatives and that the kind of heightened concern we had about medical supplies and COVID-related medical supplies are without evidence. Would you please ask the government to review their decision in this matter and not leave it to the courts to decide whether the rights of workers have been taken away? Rather, it’s the government, which is responsible for governing, that ensures the rights of workers. Ask them to review this and, if appropriate, withdraw their opposition and their defence in this court case.