Mr. Speaker, the softwood lumber dispute has now reached an impasse. The Americans have not come up with any counter-proposal and are offering no guarantees regarding the return to free trade. In the meantime, it is companies in Quebec and Canada, and their workers, who are paying the price for this government's inability to settle the matter. Yesterday, the parliamentary secretary referred to assistance that some companies might receive from Export Development Canada.
Will the parliamentary secretary assure us that in addition to large companies, small and medium sized businesses will also be able to rely on such assistance?