by alec on October 18, 2005
Bill Clinton commented last night that he doesn’t think Paul Martin has any choice on the softwood lumber issue. We have plenty of resources in this country besides lumber. We should be pursuing a multi-pronged strategy on trade. Global warming, for instance, affects Canada greatly. The annual fall display of leaves in Ottawa this year was terrible — the summer was too hot, and the cold didn’t come quickly enough. Our climate is changing. I, for one, would be in favour of an export surtax on fuel to any country with excessive SUV usage per capita energy consumption.
by alec on October 8, 2003
U.S. unveils softwood peace plan. VANCOUVER and OTTAWA — Canada’s traditional forest practices would be transformed under U.S. proposals aimed at producing a quick end to the long-running trade war over softwood lumber exports to the United States. I say let the American’s sweat. Apparently the softwood lumber duty is not achieving the goals they thought it would. Canadian mills have figured out how to be more efficient than they were in the past, and have recouped the 27% lost profits. American lumber producers are still suffering as a result, and the cost to build American homes has risen an average $1500 per house. Something has to give. Why should it be the Canadian lumber industry?
