Mr. Speaker, I would like to correct one of the misunderstandings in the preamble to the hon. member's first question.
Yves Fortier was our negotiator on this file for four years. We had full confidence in him, confidence which was repeatedly expressed. When he wrote his letters which were tabled in the House a little more than a week ago, it was clear from his letters that he supported our position and vice versa.
With respect to the issue of binding arbitration, we would be very pleased to have binding arbitration. I welcome the Conservative Party's support for that position. But it takes two people to agree to binding arbitration and we have not had that agreement from our American friends.
Finally, I would add that deputy minister—