Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Bloc's motion today and the comments of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Trade.
I represent a northern Ontario riding as do you, Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Sault Ste. Marie and numerous other members from northern Ontario. When 99% of the production in softwood lumber is from northern Ontario, it is critical to our fellow northern Ontarians that this issue be resolved and that we have free trade in softwood lumber.
The government's efforts in this area are laudable. It is very important to remind the House and those who are listening that there are victims of the political posturing we are seeing in the U.S. They could be workers and companies in my riding, in your riding, Mr. Speaker, in the riding of the member from the Soo and elsewhere in northern Ontario. Victims whose livelihoods are at stake for no other reason but politics.
Communities, all too often single industry communities, depend upon the forestry sector. They turn the lights off sometimes when the political posturing in the U.S. requires that their industry or factory be closed down or work hours be reduced.
Would the parliamentary secretary comment on how his efforts and the efforts of his minister will help bring some certainty to the livelihoods of the small and big businesses and the workers that maintain our very important softwood lumber sector?