Mr. Speaker, the border is still closed but it is not because of any action of the U.S. administration, the USDA or the President of the United States, or any inaction on our part. The U.S. border is still closed to live animals because of the actions of one group called R-CALF in the state of Montana. It went to court, as I have indicated. As much as it is distressing to us, the courts are there and it used the courts to obtain an interim injunction.
As I indicated to the other hon. member in response to his question, the Department of International Trade is assessing all our legal options at this point in relation to whether it is possible for us to take legal action to pursue, be it either an interim injunction or be it more general terms, the opening of the border.
However we must keep in mind that the only reason the border is not open is this interim injunction. It is not the U.S. administration, nor is it the President of the United States or Secretary Johanns. It is one group of producers with its own special interests that used the courts to seek the interim injunction.
I can assure the House that it is the worst example of special interest and protectionism, and what we are doing is assessing all our legal options at this time.