Softwood duties going to U.S. charities, Habitat for Humanity

[Amonester]

Softwood duties going to U.S. charities, Habitat for Humanity
Last Updated: Friday, October 13, 2006 | 7:53 AM PT
CBC News
~snip~
The U.S. government said Friday it will distribute $450 million US to three charitable organizations as part of the deal worked out to end the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber trade fight.

The money comes from duties collected on Canadian softwood brought into the U.S.

Under the deal, two endowments will be created — $200 million US for the United States Endowment for Forestry and Communities Inc., and $150 million US for the American Forest Foundation.

Habitat for Humanities International will also get a $100-million US revolving loan fund to buy softwood lumber for homes for low-income families, especially those in timber-reliant communities and for families recovering from disasters.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/10/13/softwooddutiescharities.html
~~~~

What do you think? 1. Truth or lies? 2. Good or bad? 3. Why?
Qu'en pensez-vous? 1. Vérité ou mensonges? 2. Bon ou mauvais? 3. Pourquoi?

Personally, I'm not sure (yet) if this "news" is the truth (how can this be 'verified'?). :shrug:

[Amonester]

1. At the "expense" of? (Who wins? Who loses?)

'The next 18 months are gonna be very hard': Quebec forestry
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 | 1:21 PM ET
CBC News
~snip~
There could be more mill closures in Quebec and more job losses in coming months as the forest industry adjusts to deflated demand for softwood lumber, analysts say.

Several forest products companies have announced significant closures and layoffs across the province this fall, with the latest announcement coming Tuesday from Abitibi-Consolidated, one of the largest operations in Quebec, which will shut down four mills and cut 700 jobs at the end of October.

The fall announcements cap a dismal 18-month period for the sector, in which more than 10,000 Quebecers have lost forestry jobs because of 116 mills closing temporarily or permanently.

Unless there's swift restructuring within the industry, coupled with immediate government support, the situation will get worse before it gets better, analysts predicted Wednesday.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2006/10/11/qc-forestrylayoffs.html
~~~~~

Free trade? (Of what? Poverty?)
:shrug:

[CHIMO]

2. Stretched

Definition of a charity.

Groups to get half a billion under softwood lumber deal

That eumenical Christian ministry will get US$100 million to buy lumber and build some 4,000 houses for about US$25,000 each, some in communities recovering from natural disasters like the southern Gulf region hit by hurricane Katrina last year.

The American Forest Foundation, a non-profit education and conservation organization founded in 1982, will get US$150 million to promote sustainable forests and help U.S. communities that depend on the timber industry.

The newly created United States Endowment for Forestry and Communities Inc. is to receive $200 million for the same purposes.

"You can’t tell me there’s no political influence in a newly created foundation."

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/534301.html

[Amonester]

4. R they trying to "buy" President Carter's "silence" or is it just me?

> "the respected Habitat for Humanity that’s supported by former president Jimmy Carter and builds homes for low-income people."

I wouldn't pass anything - and especially not an "omerta" move - beyond these Reptiles...

[oblivious]

3. US negotiators are much better than ours or the Harper gov works for theUS

They will never 'stand up for Canada'.

[Amonester]

5. Harper will never "gain" a majority government if he scores blank...

in Quebec as he's going to next time (coming up in Spring or just before Summer 2007, IMHO).

Actually, I consider him kind of "working for" Boisclair's future PQ government's "Yes Vote" so he'd get his only chance at a majority (if Quebec "leaves"...).

[daleo]

6. Most of it will be a slush fund for conservative causes

That's what I think.