Mr. Chair, I'm still hoping that there will be common sense around this table and that members of the committee will realize that what is happening here is irresponsible. That's what I'm hoping. One might consider me an idealist, but I honestly believe parliamentarians believe in their hearts that they have a responsibility to softwood companies and softwood communities across the country that are going to pay the price for what is happening today.
Currently, under Bill C-24, records are required to be retained for any period specified in the demand. So what we have is that the minister can basically force any period upon the softwood companies. We talked about six years, and that's already onerous, but beyond that now, the minister may demand that records be retained for any period. What this amendment does is provide for a reasonable period. Now, according the government, “reasonable” is, I guess, 60 seconds--or even better, 10 seconds.