I appreciate that.
What have we done, Mr. Chair?
Here is bad news for the Canadian softwood industry right across the country. We're imposing a double tax now. This is what this committee is deciding, or at least 11 of the 12 members, aside from the NDP. We're deciding to impose a double tax that we know—that we have been informed—results in 67-cent dollars coming back to the companies through EDC. We know that. We heard the testimony, and yet irresponsibly, like driving over a cliff with the softwood industry in the back seat, we're simply saying: it doesn't matter that there's double taxation; we're not going to fix the bill.
We have also included end-matched lumber historically. For years we have assiduously defended ourselves from including end-matched lumber in the penalties that are applied, and yet now in clause 18 we do so. Again we were informed, Mr. Chair; Elliot Feldman was very clear in his testimony about the implications and the consequences of this. As a result, the 11 members who are voting for this have to take responsibility for the implications and the consequences of what I consider to be irresponsible action.
We are also not correcting the fact that under this clause, clause 18, the punitive special charge is levied even before any money might come to a company. We know from testimony two weeks ago from departmental officials that this is the case. We know it's the case, and yet irresponsibly, 11 of the 12 members are moving forward.
These are irresponsible actions, Mr. Chair. These are actions that are not befitting responsible parliamentarians. We know the consequences, we've been informed of the consequences, and yet rather than taking action, we are simply saying, let's railroad this bill through.
Mr. Chair, this is absolutely inappropriate. We know now that in clause 6, in clause 12, in clause 18, by this committee's decision, by virtue of 11 of the 12 members railroading it through, we are seeing the implications and consequences of what this means to the softwood industry. It should surprise all Canadians to know what is being rammed through today.
Now, Mr. Chair, I would like to share an e-mail with you that just came in from the first vice-president of the United Steel Workers in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. He says the softwood deal will lead to more layoffs, as it makes it more profitable for companies like Interfor to export logs to the States, where it can produce lumber without the penalties the softwood deal imposes.