Mr. Speaker, seven days before the border was to open, the government decided to deal with the intercontinental ballistic missile issue. We had had months and months to deal with that issue, but it seems that the government decided at that very sensitive period of time to make that announcement.
It is not just the R-CALF case. The U.S. Senate brought in a motion to close the border to Canada and passed it and some of the rhetoric was related to this. We had a breakdown in communications between the Bush administration and the Prime Minister over that issue. To me that is what poisoned the whole thing. The timing of that announcement could not have been worse. I am not saying it is the cause of all the problems but it certainly did not help.
I wonder if the Bush administration is appealing the R-CALF decision as vigorously as it would have otherwise. I am wondering if the Bush administration is going to be as enthusiastic about a veto to cancel out any motions that come out of the Senate and Congress to close the border. That seems to be what the mood is. We need the Bush administration very strongly on our side on this issue, but it seems to me the government struck a thumb in the eyes of that administration seven days before the border was to open. There should be some accountability on that side of the House.