Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006  Mr. Speaker, how would the member know? He was chided in the Prince George Citizen because he had not even read the agreement. That is unbelievable. He was chided in the Prince George Citizen because NDP forestry critic Bob Simpson and I had actually read the agreement and he had not.

Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006  Clearly, Mr. Speaker, this is not a commercially viable deal. This is an absolutely ridiculous deal that the companies have rejected consistently throughout the summer, until the government started bullying them individually and saying there would be no alternative to this Conservative sellout.

Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006  Mr. Speaker, three minutes is not a lot of time. I have reviewed the botched legislation, Bill C-24, and the mistakes that the government has made on that bill. I would like to come back to the principle of the softwood sellout itself. Then, before I sit down, I will be offering an amendment to the amendment offered by the member for Beauséjour.

Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006  Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to stand with my New Democratic Party colleagues to state that we will be voting against the bill, but voting for the amendment that has been offered, and I will be raising a subamendment at the end of my speech after question period. I am raising the objections of the New Democratic Party, which has led the fight against the softwood sellout, because we believe that coercion is not consent and extortion is not gaining approval.

Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006  Mr. Speaker, I listened with great interest to the new Bloc Québécois international trade critic, and I congratulate him on his new caucus portfolio. My question is very straightforward. This agreement is not good for the softwood lumber industry across the country. We know that it is not at all in the best interest of the Quebec industry.

Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006  Mr. Speaker, the minister talked about clearing the table. This agreement essentially gives the table away along with the whole rest of the house. There have been a whole series of questions that have been asked by industry around this. A meeting last week in Vancouver was botched.

Canada Transportation Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the Bloc transportation critic, for his question. This is indeed a shortcoming in the existing legislation. He is quite right. Now these are aspects that have to be reviewed in committee. I know that the member will take part to the same extent as I in attempting to improve this bill.

Canada Transportation Act  Mr. Speaker, this is a matter of grave concern to us. I mentioned earlier in my speech that there has been a call for a public inquiry into rail safety. What we are seeing increasingly with the larger number of rail accidents is a greater risk to Canadians, particularly in urban areas where these hazardous wastes are transported.

Canada Transportation Act  Mr. Speaker, that is just not true and the hon. member should know that. In Australia the standards are actually tighter than they are in Canada. It is just not true that those standards are universal. There are other jurisdictions that have safer standards. He raised the point of what the question was.

Canada Transportation Act  Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is my neighbour in the Confederation Building so I always appreciate him rising to speak on this issue. I raised this during my initial speech. The question of how most effectively to deal with the issue of air complaints is important to us, so we will be very closely monitoring and ensuring that, through the committee process, we get the best possible witnesses forward to really comment on what would be the most effective route forward.

Canada Transportation Act  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak on Bill C-11. The NDP finds that there are some aspects of this bill that are worthy of consideration. I will address the aspects that Canadians might consider less interesting a little later. The principle set out in this bill is that this is a government that listens.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns  What was the government's total contribution, monetary and non-monetary, to the 2005 World Police and Fire Games in Quebec City?

Points of Order  Mr. Speaker, in question period today, the Minister of International Trade called me dishonest for raising facts that came out this summer in the international trade committee hearings on softwood lumber. He said it twice. It is unparliamentary and inappropriate language for the House of Commons.

Softwood Lumber  Incredibly, Mr. Speaker, the government is now intervening in court to stop Canadians from winning once and for all on softwood lumber. Winning means that the illegal tariffs come off and every penny has to be repaid. There are no more appeals. We are months away from winning.

Federal Accountability Act  Mr. Speaker, the member from Windsor West asks a question about a pretty fundamental issue. Indeed, money should not be the preponderant influence in politics. Someone should not be able to donate $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, $20,000 or $30,000 to an election campaign. We have made substantial improvements.