Madam Speaker, there is something that I want to bring to the attention of the House, especially the government, regarding the softwood lumber agreement.
The Atlantic provinces are subject to what is called the Maritime accord which was signed in 1996. This accord exempts Atlantic Canada from the softwood lumber agreement, and there is a reason for that. I sometimes get the feeling that that is lost in the halls of government. It ignores the fact that 75% of all lumber produced in Atlantic Canada comes from private land. That is why it was excluded.
In addition to that, stumpage fees in Atlantic Canada are much higher than they are in other parts of the country. That is why we have this special recognition or exemption. That is why we were included in the Maritime accord, signed in 1996.
The concern that we have on this side of the House is that the government, in its negotiations with the United States, has ignored this very fact. What we have is an agreement that might come about, or penalties that might be imposed on Canada which might be a better way to express it, that are going to punish Atlantic Canada. It is going to punish us despite the fact that we have managed our forests well and have what we call market prices for our stumpage. We have never been part of the problem. If we want to look at that, we are part of the solution.
Is the hon. member aware of recognition of the special status of Atlantic Canada in regard to the Maritime accord signed in 1996, and has he made that case to his cabinet colleague who is carrying this file for the Government of Canada? In addition to that, going back to 1982, we have always been exempted from the lumber agreement, the SLA.