Alexandre Boulerice, NDP Labour Critic and MP for Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, Quebec, told delegates, “We are facing tough times. We’re facing challenging times.” But, he reminded them “…it’s never been an easy time for any labour movement in any country.” He told a story about meeting trade unionists in South America: “In Columbia they face assassination. I asked, what we can do to help you? They said, win your battles in your own home. If you lower the bar you put pressure on us.”

The home battles are formed by what Boulerice believes is Stephen Harper’s strategic plans: quick, irresponsible exploitation of natural resources and lowering Canadian wages by abusing the temporary foreign worker program.

It’s interesting, said Boulerice, that Harper prefers to use private members bills to attack unions. Surely it’s the job of the Labour Minister to change the labour code, not private members. Boulerice asked delegates what does that say about Harper’s trust in his minister, Lisa Raitt? He suggested it’s time to put pressure on her to reclaim her portfolio.