Mark and I fully agree. The fact is that, listening to the discussion and listening to the testimony—as I said at the beginning, our union represents members in trade-exposed sectors and across the regions, be it in softwood, aluminum or steel—I have to tell you that I don't have a warm, fuzzy feeling about what's been happening to our members in the communities where we work.
When we came out of this thing in May of 2019 in regard to lifting the tariffs, I think we unfortunately fumbled very badly. The fact is that we have not looked after the needs and the wants of the aluminum workers, forestry workers or the steelworkers and the steel industry. You can't continue to reward bad behaviour.
I look at this file. Quite frankly, a large percentage of this file is probably 80% political, and the other 20% may be based on some facts. I mean, many of the witnesses have already testified with respect to what's happening to aluminum in the United States. They can't produce what they need to consume. They depend on Canada. It's good aluminum. It's a good product. It sustains good middle-class jobs. The fact is that the only people it's going to benefit is China and Russia, and it's going to be a detriment to workers in the United States, the auto sector and the consumer.
Yes, they should impose the duties, tariffs or the countervailing measures permanently. The fact is that we should not be pushed around. The fact is that the government has to stand up for the citizens of Canada. We maintained that back then, and we maintain that today.