Thanks you very much, Mr. Chair.
I support Mr. Cardin's motion, particularly because since the softwood lumber agreement was implemented we have seen 10,000 jobs lost throughout Canada, including in Maniwaki, in Témiscamingue, in New Westminster in my province, British Columbia, and in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Since the softwood lumber agreement — some might call it the softwood lumber betrayal — was implemented, the forestry industry has lost huge numbers of jobs. We have to act. Mr. Cardin's motion very clearly sets out the kind of measures that should be taken.
I'd like to add that this is an emergency. It's a structural jobs crisis. It's estimated that we're losing 200 jobs every single day in the manufacturing sector, in the softwood sector, the forestry sector. So 200 jobs every day means that every single day there is a delay, another 200 families lose a breadwinner.
I would hope that members in all four corners of this committee, representing all four parties, would support this motion unanimously so we could then move forward into the House and have the debate that needs to take place.
This is a crisis. It takes emergency measures, and I think Mr. Cardin's motion helps guide the government to the measures that need to be taken immediately.