Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We've had the vagueness around this whole issue of the actual
implementation of the Agreement. In fact, Mr. Chairman, it is quite clear that duties have been collected on Canadian softwood lumber that crossed the boarder after October 2. According to certain rumours, depending on whom you speak to, it was October 13 or 14. In any case, the problem clearly lasted for several days.
Double payments were made, meaning that, once again, softwood lumber companies were penalized. That was not the most effective way to proceed. They have been penalized by this Agreement and they continue to be penalized. They would have been penalized had they agreed to sign the Export Development Canada documents, because we now see that 75 per cent of companies did not sign them and will be receiving...