Mr. Speaker, first I want to congratulate the member for Champlain on his excellent speech.
Does he not think that, at this time, an assistance program is essential to keep the consensus that has developed in Canada and in Quebec in favour of a complete return to free trade?
Without such an assistance program, it seems to me that, in a few weeks or a few months, when people are laid off and many plants are forced to shut down in British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta or elsewhere, industrial entrepreneurs and perhaps even labour unions will start asking the Canadian government to go back on its knees to negotiate an export tax and quotas with the Americans or even to simply accept the decisions made by the United States.
Does the member think that, at this time, an assistance program for the industry and its workers is essential to keep this consensus in favour of a complete return to free trade in the softwood lumber industry?