Mr. Speaker, the trade minister knows we are not going to get a negotiated settlement in the softwood lumber dispute unless we sell out to U.S. economic terrorism. This means we have to look at interim measures to help our industry survive while the WTO process plays out.
The Export Development Corporation plan to help Canadian lumber companies is not working because most do not qualify for loans. The Liberal government just refused to relax EDC rules so more companies can qualify. The government has refused to provide an emergency aid package for laid off workers. Will the government at least follow the advice of the B.C. lumber trade council and pursue a suspension agreement on countervailing duties?