Lumber groups decry trade deal

[CHIMO]

OTTAWA—The Stephen Harper government's tentative softwood deal with the United States will impede free trade and cost Canadian jobs unless the Conservatives hammer out a better arrangement, lumber-industry officials say.

"The deal, as we have seen it so far, guarantees that, for the next seven to nine years, there will not be free trade in lumber," Carl Grenier of the Free Trade Lumber Council told an all-party House of Commons trade committee yesterday.

"The U.S. wants managed trade in softwood lumber, and there's no doubt as to who will be the manager," Grenier said.

His group represents softwood producers across the country, including many who fear the proposed deal, reached on April 27 to end a four-year trade war with Washington, is being rushed for political reasons.

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[Bassic]

1. There's no doubt in Harper's mind either,

That's probably just the way he wants it. This fucker is going to seel us to the U.S. piece by piece.

[Spazito]

2. I hope the Free Trade Lumber Council screams loud and long

over this, it is a travesty. Harper is claiming 'victory' by totally selling out Canada on this issue, giving up one BILLION dollars that rightly belongs to those lumber producers, giving MORE control over to the US as to what and how lumber goes into the U.S.

[tuvor]

3. Harper: "You do not negotiate after you've won." --2005

Just wanted to mention that.

[MrPrax]

4. It's Emerson...

It has to be. One of the first things that Harper did once he got power was presuemably 'bribe' Emerson 'moments' after election night? No way, there must have been a prior arrangement somewhere down the line. Who approached who? Emerson was on this portfolio for years and must have known about this deal evolved.

This must have been the deal that Emerson wanted and secured, but couldn't get the green light from the Liberals. His former employer, Canfor, will make out like bandits. He must have at one point talked about it to Harper about it. I imagine that the deal, while terrible for Canada, probably positions the 'western' producers like Canfor nicely, while Ontario and Quebec's are shafted.

Why the fuck would Harper go to bat so shamelessly for Emerson unless there was a deal. The fallout from his own party would have nixed the appointment and it's not that Emerson was NEEDED to break an important vote. It's not like it was an ideological or anything...in fact according to protocol Emerson is fourth in line to be Prime Minister.

Quite a gift for a guy that couldn't be considered a bigtime Liberal Party fish--he only entered politics in 2004 and that was only because Martin bypassed the constituency and appointed him.

Quite a feat...for someone's whose ultimate speciality was the BC forest industry and government contacts.

The best part--Emerson is expendible of course...if the deal gets too hot, Emerson can then just resign, citing all those bad NDPers back in Kingsway, chasing a good man from politics, etc etc

It smells bad and looks like a scandal

[Spazito]

5. You make some very good points!

I hadn't thought about it from that perspective but what you posted makes sense, Emerson has to be the key to this somehow.