Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am moving amendment L-3.
Mr. Chairman, as colleagues will know, and we've talked about this at a number of our hearings, this deals with the independent lumber remanufacturers, companies that are in every part of the country, in Atlantic Canada and across the country. Some of the larger ones, for example, are in western Canada and Alberta. They buy lumber on the open market and remanufacture the lumber to add value to it. So they have a unique circumstance with respect to exporting to the United States because they do not themselves harvest lumber or operate sawmills. They are independent, meaning they remanufacture, add value and create jobs to lumber that is sold on an open market.
The intent of amendment L-3 is simply to...we view it as a way to provide a definition of “independent remanufacturer” in the legislation. The bill does not itself define what is an “independent remanufacturer”. In the softwood lumber agreement, however, Canada and the United States have agreed to a definition. So we simply wanted to add the definition of what is an independent remanufacturer, as contained in the agreement, into the legislation.
For example, I know the parliamentary secretary will be happy that the date, October 11, 2006, has been inserted as the effective date, to be consistent again with the agreement.
With respect to “associated person” in our amendment, this is defined in relation to another statute, the Special Import Measures Act. Again, we view this as consistent with the intent of the softwood lumber agreement and the definition contained therein.
Our amendment, therefore, seeks simply to ensure consistency between the act and the original intent of the agreement. And it provides legal recognition and protection for this distinct class of exporters.
Mr. Chairman, I hope colleagues can support this effort to ensure the appropriate definition of these companies is inserted in the legislation.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.