Hon. Sergio Marchi (Minister for International Trade, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, yet again the Reform Party is late. Not only are we fighting but we have already consulted the American side. We have told them that we will be proceeding through the dispute mechanism system as well as taking this to the World Customs Organization.

We are trying to work within the confines of this agreement. But we do not accept the American intention to expand the agreement into areas that quite frankly are unfair. We will, and have already started the claim.

Hon. Sergio Marchi (Minister for International Trade, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, in the government's attempt to expand the trade culture to include small and medium size businesses, the women entrepreneur constituency is one of our main priorities. That is why we led a women's mission exclusively to Washington.

That is why we established the women's research coalition so that we can understand not only what is happening with women led, women owned companies in Canada, but what their needs are from an export market perspective. That is why in May the United States and Canada will be holding the first women's trade summit. We very much look forward to these initiatives.

Hon. Sergio Marchi (Minister for International Trade, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, Canada is negotiating the composition of the WTO special panel. We think that agreement on the composition is imminent, but should no agreement be reached soon, Canada is prepared to ask the director general of the WTO to designate the members of the special panel.

Hon. Sergio Marchi (Minister for International Trade, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, the preamble to the gentleman's question is wrong.

Not only did the producers support the agreement but all the four provinces agreed with entering the agreement. We have already said that the American position lately on this new tariff will not be accepted by Canada.

We are speaking to the very producers and stakeholders to monitor the situation and to evaluate what best options are available.

Certainly we are prepared to defend the softwood lumber industry to the teeth.

Hon. Sergio Marchi (Minister for International Trade, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, was there a question or was there a complaint that the Reform Party was as guilty as sin about being disloyal to the Canadian interest, to Canadian workers in Montreal and across the country?