Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. This decision made by the United States government will have serious impacts on my people.

I would like to thank Minister Bob McLeod for asking me to join him this summer in Washington with my colleague Mr. Krutko. In Washington we met with various senators and congressmen in order to share my people’s message that the polar bear populations in Canada are healthy.

I know that with the pending U.S. election we are unable to get any changes to the ruling, but I want to let my people know that I will continue to work with the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment to get this decision reversed. Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, my aim is to persuade the U.S. government to introduce an amendment to allow import of polar bear hides into the U.S.