International Trade committee  I would just like to address some of those questions, including the one raised by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and Mr. Julian. I know the kind of thing you have to do, because I went through this in a previous life. But whatever you do as pa

International Trade committee  As I said a little earlier, 6 plus 18 equals 24, just as 23 plus 1 equals 24. According to our analysis, it is better to have a six-month than a one-month timeframe, because it allows us to do certain things. We can organize public challenges. We can conduct ad campaigns to prote

International Trade committee  Mr. Chairman, I'm going to try to answer that. I aim to reflect the views of the members of the council that I represent. If, for all kinds of different reasons, our members voted democratically to support this agreement, and they prefer this agreement to what we have now, in all

International Trade committee  As regards the anti-circumvention clause, I am not denying that this could be of some significance in Ontario. However, the agreement has not been signed yet. So far, we've only heard about it, and yet the press attaché of the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife in Quebec

International Trade committee  If loan guarantees were to become available within four days and loans were guaranteed at 80 per cent, I would call another vote.

International Trade committee  With respect to the points raised by Mr. Paradis, I addressed them at the outset but I will quickly review them again. First of all, the addition of a 12-month period after seven years is a positive change, from our perspective. A term of six months, rather than one month—even t

International Trade committee  You're talking about pricing? You say that the provinces will get the money, but the fact remains that it's the industry that pays.

International Trade committee  It's a question of deadlines. What happened on April 27 is a good example: we were given 48 hours to consider the proposal, and it was take it or leave it. But we operate according to certain rules. Our bylaws require a minimum of three days notice to call a special general meeti

International Trade committee  In terms of a mechanism, we had to explain it to quite a few people. For example, you can borrow from the previous month if you have used the full volume you were allocated for that month, just as you can borrow a certain percentage from the coming month; I believe it is 12 per

International Trade committee  On that point, our members have different opinions. Some say it will cost just as much to wait two or three more years. That's the calculation some have made. Personally, I have said so often that's a lot of money to pay per week that I can't deny it. In fact, Mr. Proulx, you may

International Trade committee  Based on what was said this morning, I'm assuming that adding a clarification in the agreement does not systematically require an amendment. Rest assured that I noted that fact. Indeed, I have every intention of obtaining the Minutes of Proceedings.

International Trade committee  Would the result of vote have been the same? Well, I can tell you that there would not have been as broad a consensus if there had been real loan guarantees in place. The previous government had said it would provide such guarantees following the election. Since it lost the elect

International Trade committee  No, the rate remained at 80 per cent. As I said earlier, a whole host of reasons prompted people to vote the way they did. Some were just completely fed up and disgusted with the whole dispute. In other cases, their financial position is extremely weak. And as you know full well,

International Trade committee  Yes.

International Trade committee  Today, I would say it is primarily the fact that the industry in Quebec is having financial problems and that many members believe this agreement will be a shot in the arm. That is probably the main reason. For them, getting the money back quickly is a matter of survival.