Mr. Chairman, I acknowledge that it was absolutely appropriate to change the tone.
I know that the minister had discussions in recent days with his counterparts in the U.S. I know that the Prime Minister has met the president of the United States on numerous occasions. I am also aware that the Minister for International Trade within the next two weeks will be meeting face to face with the U.S. trade representative Robert Zoellick. I am sure this will be the first issue that comes out of his mouth.
Why is this an emergency debate? I want to bring it back to the human element. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians and their families are affected. This is tearing them apart. It is going to devastate communities. That is why this is an emergency debate. That is why it is appropriate. The situation is critical.
The minister knows that the Prime Minister is talking to President Bush. The parliamentary secretary knows. We have read about it in the papers. But all that the people in these industries know is that they got their pink slips and they have no jobs. Their lunch pails are empty. They are not bringing anything home to their families. They want a solution. That is all they care about. They want to see something happen.
I know we have a tough road ahead of us, but we sense there is a willingness by some of the people in the United States to resolve the issue. If ever there were a time for our government to ratchet it up, that time is now. I do not think we should concede anything. This is about the families. It is about the jobs. It is time that we put the pressure on again. I look forward to the government doing that.