U. S. Ambassador "Way Out Of Line": Harper

Canada objected strenuously after Washington announced it would ignore a NAFTA ruling on softwood lumber in Canada's favour. "I think the U.S. ambassador is way out of line," said Harper, who attended a Ukrainian Festival parade in Toronto today with Edmonton MP Peter Goldring. "But a big part of the reason this has happened is the Liberal government has allowed communications with the Americans to break down entirely." The softwood quagmire, which began in 2001, revolves around expensive duties placed on Canadian softwood lumber exports to the U.S. On Friday, Prime Minister Paul Martin said the Canadian reaction to the dispute has thus far been firm and demonstrates the government's commitment to deal with the dispute on the basis of facts. Harper said that while he makes no excuses for the ambassador's comments, it is now up to the prime minister and his government to respond and take stronger action. "The prime minister should be calling the president," he said. "He should be calling him now to make sure this is being dealt with at the highest levels." http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1125138450117&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968705899037&t=TS_Home&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on August 31, 2005]

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