Did We Finally Grow a Backbone in Ottawa?
Grits mull return on softwood
OTTAWA (CP) - The Liberal government is thinking of recalling Parliament early from its summer recess to deal with the trade dispute that's heating up with the United States over softwood lumber.
--*snip*--
The tough talk in Ottawa began earlier this month when the Americans refused to accept a ruling by a NAFTA panel that went in Canada's favour and found the U.S. softwood duties to be unjustified.
The Canadian response was to call off talks that had been aimed at achieving a negotiated settlement.
David Wilkins, the new U.S. ambassador to Ottawa, warned last week that Canada should stop its "emotional tirades" and get back to the bargaining table - a demand dismissed by Emerson as hypocritical.
The industry minister, who was CEO of the Canfor forest products group before entering politics, said he's had plenty of experience with how the Americans bargain.
"I have seen the threats, I've seen the aggression with which the (U.S.) administration officials tell us how endlessly inventive they can be at finding new ways to hurt our industry," Emerson said.
" I find it a little hypocritical to hear the ambassador telling us we should be negotiating. We've been negotiating for years."
(Read entire article here)
Canadians are known around the world for being polite – except to each other. We are also, apparently, known for our patience and willingness to be doormats for every bully on the block.
Maybe not anymore.
OTTAWA (CP) - The Liberal government is thinking of recalling Parliament early from its summer recess to deal with the trade dispute that's heating up with the United States over softwood lumber.
--*snip*--
The tough talk in Ottawa began earlier this month when the Americans refused to accept a ruling by a NAFTA panel that went in Canada's favour and found the U.S. softwood duties to be unjustified.
The Canadian response was to call off talks that had been aimed at achieving a negotiated settlement.
David Wilkins, the new U.S. ambassador to Ottawa, warned last week that Canada should stop its "emotional tirades" and get back to the bargaining table - a demand dismissed by Emerson as hypocritical.
The industry minister, who was CEO of the Canfor forest products group before entering politics, said he's had plenty of experience with how the Americans bargain.
"I have seen the threats, I've seen the aggression with which the (U.S.) administration officials tell us how endlessly inventive they can be at finding new ways to hurt our industry," Emerson said.
" I find it a little hypocritical to hear the ambassador telling us we should be negotiating. We've been negotiating for years."
(Read entire article here)
Canadians are known around the world for being polite – except to each other. We are also, apparently, known for our patience and willingness to be doormats for every bully on the block.
Maybe not anymore.
posted by Chimera at 1:23 PM
3 Comments:
Don't kid yourself. They are using the misfortunes of your friends to score political points for the upcoming election. This problem was brewing for years, Cretien chose not to deal with it then. There was nothing in it for the Libs at the time.
although there is truth to getting back to the bargaining table, the fact still remains we shouldn't be there in the first place, as was ruled by everybody else on the planet, there is nothing to bargain about, pay us our frggin money back....
Our ambassador, Frank McKenna, nailed their ambassador over this issue: you lost, pay up like a good poker player, he says. I've been wondering why the government just doesn't put our oil exports to them on the table, when along comes Layton with the only suggestion that will get them to sit up and take notice: slap export duties on oil and gas.
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