The longest filibuster over federal back-to-work legislation showed no signs of abating as the Conservatives and the NDP failed to find a way out of their confrontation over the lockout at Canada Post.
MPs locked in the showdown debated through the night Thursday, all day Friday and were heading for more into the weekend, with the NDP offering speaker after speaker on a procedural motion ahead of actual debate on Bill C-6. The marathon session could now stretch into next week, unless negotiations start getting more serious.
Labour Minister Lisa Raitt told reporters on Friday afternoon that the current legislation is "not close to being passed," and officials involved in the talks said there was little progress in subsequent discussions.
Ms. Raitt said she is willing to continue holding talks on amendments to the bill, but said the goal has be to end the lockout at Canada Post that affects individuals, companies and charities across the country.
"There is no hard back and forth," Ms. Raitt said, explaining she had many discussions with MP Yvon Godin, the NDP's labour critic.
The marathon session meant the House sat through St. Jean Baptiste Day, an important holiday in Quebec. More than half of the NDP's 103-member caucus is from the province and wanted to be back in their ridings to celebrate the holiday, but had to settle for a quick trip across the Ottawa River to Gatineau.
Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae headed to Quebec City and Montreal for St. Jean Baptiste Day celebrations, while Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in between appearances in the House, spent a part of Friday in Thetford Mines, Que.
Talks broke off between Canada Post and its union Wednesday night. The two sides remain far apart on several issues, and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers says it is doubtful talks will resume in the face of the government's determination to impose a settlement in the three-week dispute.
Most MPs, who were scheduled to start their summer break on Thursday, were alternating between sleeping in their parliamentary offices and sitting in Commons for six-hour shifts. Pat Martin slept on the couch in his Centre Block office from midnight to 4 a.m. The NDP MP then went to the Parliament Hill gym for a shower and back to the House of Commons, telling The Globe that he felt "like a champion now."
Dean Del Mastro, the parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister, drew the 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. shift – but was awake for 24 hours. Elizabeth May, the Green Party Leader, was in her seat in the Commons all night Thursday, and started speaking on the matter later on Friday.
MPs are getting by on pizza and water with a little lemon squeezed in it, although Bloc MPs shared some Scotch at one point.
The NDP is putting forward all of its 103 MPs at each stage – meaning that with 10- or 20-minute speeches and time for questions and answers, each stage could take a day or so. They will not be able to kill the legislation as the Conservatives have a majority in the House of Commons.
"But the speeches are animated and lucid and passionate," Mr. Martin said. "No one's reading their laundry list or the phonebook. It's interesting and fresh, a real debate."
Mr. Rae accused the government of drafting the motion in such a way as to allow a filibuster, adding that the NDP took the bait. "I guess the idea of slumber parties and all-nighters has an appeal to them, but the exercise is shambolic."