Supply  A lot of people are being impacted. In the U.S. consumers are now starting to complain because they like Canada's softwood lumber. They like the quality, the price and the availability of it. If Canadian lumber is restricted then it will drive up the price of all American building products and will have an impact on U.S. consumers.

Supply  Mr. Speaker, those are good questions. He is obviously a very intelligent and thoughtful member from Manitoba where there is a lot of clear, cold air. Who is opposing the free trade agreement in the United States? The industry in the U.S. is opposing it. The system in the U.S. is guaranteed to have opposition from the U.S. industry.

Supply  Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague asked an interesting question about the maritime accord and where the name came from. The name came from the United States. The United States considers anything east of Quebec in Canada to be the maritimes. However the maritimes consists only of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I.

Supply  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak on this issue because it is a critical issue to my party, my region and my country. It is the number one issue that has occupied our attention for the last little while. It is not a simple issue and there will probably not be a simple solution.

American National Missile Defence System  Mr. Speaker, this is a very controversial subject and something Canada will need to deal with as it goes forth. I appreciate the hon. member for Burnaby—Douglas who has always been able to bring controversial issues to the House to ensure that they are discussed. I am sure that is his purpose today.

American National Missile Defence System  Good question. The Russians have something like 3,500 missiles they could launch on us. This system will involve perhaps 100 or 200 when it is fully implemented. It is not possible to consider this part of a nuclear missile system or anything like it. It is a small system that will have a lot of practical use and may also have benefits to Canada as far as economic development goes.

Foreign Affairs  Mr. Speaker, although the Russian diplomat involved in the recent fatal crash in Ottawa has been sent home to face criminal charges, there is still an outstanding obligation by the Russian embassy. The Russian ambassador himself owes an apology for allowing his staff members to continue the dangerous practice of driving under the influence on an ongoing basis.

Supply  Mr. Speaker, I have a question I would like to ask the hon. member for Compton—Stanstead. Last year in the House he said “Our information says it seems that the Cougar II may come with a promise of a Daimler-Chrysler plant, probably in Shawinigan”. I am not sure where Shawinigan is or whose riding that is, but this is the Liberal member asking if there is a promise to put a helicopter plant in Shawinigan.

Supply  Mr. Speaker, it is certainly a pleasure to follow my distinguished colleague from Kings—Hants, who is very knowledgeable on this question. I also want to acknowledge the hon. member for Saint John, who has brought the issue forward and has been consistent in her concern about the helicopter issue and about all other military issues.

Supply  Madam Speaker, the distinguished member for Saint John mentioned in her speech that one would never buy a motor vehicle without the frame, the tires, the transmission and the air conditioning. That struck a chord with me being a car dealer for 18 years. I will point out that the Ford Motor Company just announced that it has had so much trouble separating the contract for regular cars and police equipped cars that it has come together with its contractor to produce one package.

Tax On Tools  Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to seek some clarity on an issue that I raised in the House on February 5 after the fatal accident involving a Russian diplomat. I rose in the House to ask two questions. Actually I asked the same question twice and I did not even come close to getting an answer.

Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has failed to address the catastrophic problem with P.E.I. potato exports to the United States. The government threw away the tools to work with when it instigated the ban on Brazilian beef based on vague Canadian scientific information. When the Americans then used the same argument for P.E.I. potatoes, Canadians were unable to credibly defend themselves because they had just used the same questionable reasons to ban Brazilian beef.

Lumber Industry  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. On February 7 four Atlantic premiers signed a letter to the Prime Minister entitled “Softwood Lumber—Atlantic Canada Premiers' Request for renewal of the Maritime Accord”. In that letter they said that failure to continue the current agreement would have a devastating impact on the region's softwood lumber industry.

Trade  Mr. Speaker, the cavalier attitude of the department of international trade is causing great concern and grief to Canadian businesses. The softwood lumber issue is drifting like a barrel heading for Niagara Falls. The government has not even established consensus across this country, much less made a deal with the Americans.

Fisheries  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. For 60 years the Cobequid Federal Fish Hatchery of Cumberland county served industry and government, but in 1997 the department of fisheries announced a great new policy of divestiture with a great deal of fanfare.