Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Minister, last week I put this question to a lawyer who appeared before the committee regarding the Buy American Act.
In the context of the softwood lumber dispute, the Americans have often contested certain measures. They have used dispute resolution mechanisms to get their point across, which has slowed procedures considerably in some cases. Trade continued and decisions were eventually handed down by the tribunals. Even if the tribunals decided against the Americans, they still had the dispute process to fall back on. Nevertheless, trade continued, fines were issued and so on.
Let us suppose that a call for tenders is issued for the construction of a bridge, and that American, Quebec and Canadian businesses submit their proposals, and a Canadian company wins the bid. Is it possible that the Americans, true to form, resort to various dispute procedures, invoke defence mechanisms and do everything they can to postpone the bridge's construction, thereby taking the people hostage for months, if not years? Would such a situation be possible under this agreement?