Mr. Speaker, I put the question to Mr. Knox this morning and he told me that the reporter had completely misunderstood him, which is not surprising. I can read the provisions of the agreement to the hon. member if he wants me to. I would like to stress this point because the federal government is very seldom in a position to intervene in a dispute. This applies only to those companies that are subject to action because they are federally regulated.
If this takes place after every other recourse provided for in the agreement has been exhausted, then the government may suspend the application of certain provisions with respect to a province, but on the following conditions: benefits must be suspended or retaliatory measures imposed in the same sector as the measure considered inconsistent with the agreement; moreover, benefits may be suspended or retaliatory measures may be imposed in other sectors covered by the agreement only when it would be impractical or ineffective to suspend such benefits or impose such measures.
It is strictly limited those sectors covered by the agreement. So there is no problem.