Senator Mockler: To the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Gold, let’s take this into consideration: The Forest Products Association is also asking the Department of Global Affairs to carry out a formal, legal review of both bills currently on the floors of the legislatures in Albany and Sacramento to clearly understand this impact. Mr. Nighbor told the House committee that Global Affairs has so far refused to do this work.

Mr. Leader, I understand, however, that the Forest Products Association of Canada’s own independent review of these bills suggests that concern about the potential impacts of these bills go well beyond Canada’s forest sector.

There could be precedent-setting impacts in Canada, such as on Canada’s agriculture, energy, hydroelectric power and mining sectors, as well as their workers.

Leader, this doesn’t appear to be an unreasonable request. Can you tell us why Global Affairs won’t review these bills? Will your government intervene to request that the department conduct these reviews? There is much at stake. This will impact hundreds of thousands of Canadians working in those sectors.