I think the industry is looking for a workable, long-term deal to come out of the negotiations. No one wants to sign a deal that gives them less.
I realize that many of our members have deposits. Keep in mind that deposits collected from all Canadian companies will soon hit $7 billion. Companies and shareholders are very eager to get that money back so they can invest it, but I also think the government should be eager to collect taxes on it. That is taxable money that could help fund social and health care programs.
The U.S. Department of Commerce measures every aspect of support or assistance programs available to the industry. Everything is quantified, and the U.S. Lumber Coalition argued that business programs provided by the Business Development Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada amounted to subsidies. The U.S. Department of Commerce determined that the programs were not subsidies because companies paid for the letters of credit, which they obtain from commercially-oriented federal organizations. The companies have to pay for the letters of credit, which back the security deposits. They are anything but free.
They are not subsidies, and the U.S. Department of Commerce made that clear to the lumber coalition. All of that was rejected.
If you hear people suggesting that it's free money or subsidies, just remember that nothing could be further from the truth. Companies are paying for those sums.