Statement By The Prime Minister On The Softwood Lumber Agreement

“And finally, I’d like to thank the Premiers of the three largest softwood-producing provinces. Premier Gordon Campbell, Premier Jean Charest and Premier Dalton McGuinty have put their country first.”

Wow!...I didn't know these Three Muskateers were American.

<i>Stable and predictable access to the U.S. market.</i> <p> Isn't that what soveriegnty eliminating NAFTA was for? That was the promise under the conservative SELLOUT known as the FTA. </p> <i>The repayment of four billion dollars of disputed duties. </i> <p> Shows that the PM is willing to cave in DESPITE the fact that we won every FTA arbitration. Stephen Harper - Honorary USA citizen.</p> <i>Provincial and regional flexibility.</i> <p> I bet he would not have caved so easily if it was about OIL, ie Albertas resource.</p> <i>And perhaps most importantly, certainty – instead of costly litigation.</i> <p> Oh yes, why fight for what we deserve? Much better to kill brown skinned people in a far away country to serve the contiunation of war, create the pretexts to enslave the population, and sell our self respect for a $1billion.</p>

I've noticed recently on both the CBC and Canada.com, a 'history' of the softwood dispute that totally ignored Canada's WTO final ruling on August 15th.

"The repayment of four billion dollars of disputed duties. -> And perhaps most importantly, certainty – instead of costly litigation."

So, the way to prevent more litigation is to give the US lumber lobby a Billion dollar war chest to launch new legal actions against the Canadian industry?

The protest sign I saw is now more poingnant than ever.

"Stephen Harper is George Bushs' Monica Lewinsky" and this statement of surrender by the PM only proves it. Damn, I hope he makes this a confidence issue and LOSES!

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"I think it's important to always carry enough technology to restart civilization, should it be necessary." Mark Tilden

I think "Stephen Harper is George Bush's Anal Annie," is a bit more realistic. I sure hope lots of lube was used.

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My freedom is more important than your great idea.
– Anonymous

“This agreement delivers:
Stable and predictable access to the U.S. market.
The repayment of four billion dollars of disputed duties.
Provincial and regional flexibility.
And perhaps most importantly, certainty – instead of costly litigation."

I see no mention of fairness or equitability in this drivel.

Thanks for the sellout Stephen.

I hope you get your ass so thoroughly kicked in the next election that your ancestors 10 generations back feel it.

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"and the knowledge they fear is a weapon to be used against them"

"The Weapon" - Rush

We're getting shafted, but that's an 'agreement' according to Harper.

"I hope you get your ass so thoroughly kicked in the next election that your ancestors 10 generations back feel it."

The beauty of a dysfunctional democracy, such as Canada's, is that you can run the country as a dictator even with only 23% or the eligible vote, and after you get voted out after never actually being voted in, all of your dastardly deeds become enshrined in unchangeable law or contractual agreements, and your buddies on the other side get to be the next dictator who make sure that your unpopular legacy lives on.

"after you get voted out after never actually being voted in, all of your dastardly deeds become enshrined in unchangeable law or contractual agreements, and your buddies on the other side get to be the next dictator who make sure that your unpopular legacy lives on."

Pretty much describes the Mulroney/Harper sales team to a tee.

This treaty will more, or less, wipe out the value added sector, as it has been pointed out by BC manufacturers and e.g. the solid BCLib/Reform Williams Lake city council and other lumber manufacturing towns.

The BC govt. were against it, until stepped on by some major corporations, like Canfor, Emerson's former knockshop. Now, like good little corporate pimps, they're for it.

Harper wants an election ASAP, while the Liberals are disorganized and without a leader, hoping for a majority, which is very likely to happen, so he can sell off Canada.
The longer his minority government survives the lesser his chances for a majority, and he's using this treaty as an issue to go to the polls with, as it is bound to be defeated in the House, resulting in a "non confidence" vote.

Ed Deak.

According the the Harper Government the best way for Canada to remain competitive is not to diversify, but to boost exports and investment within North America meaning the United States of America.

This can only be acheived if we can move on but that will only be accomplished by giving up the fight on softwood lumber under the Bush Administration.

Canada's economic, social, and political system has been set up to be increasingly absorbed into the US system.

At the heart of that achievement is the reality that US investors and corporations operating in Canada shall be treated as if they are Canadian. They must be given "national treatment". No government may favour Canadian enterprise for any reason.

Canadians will never get as George W. Bush puts it a level Trading field or playing field. For every Business in the US will get favoured treatment over every Canadian Business or Trading agreement.

Just wait for the Harper / Brian Mulroney influenced Conservative majority!!

Civilians without citizenship in our own land!

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Perception is two thirds of what we perceive reality to be.

Difficult decisions are a privilege of rank.

I heard on the news today that Canada is moving towards "harmonization" with US environmental policy. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't ol' George say that the best way to prevent forest fires was to log everything..........?

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"We can have a democracy or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of the few. We cannot have both."
- Justice Louis Brandeis

The US industry has achieved its primary objective through this deal and that is the eventual control over Canadian supplies of raw materials. As the industry contracts most Canadian lumber companies will be taken over by US owned companies which will give them control over the raw materials. By shipping raw logs to their mills in the US they will be able to avoid the negative impact of the agreement. It will also allow Canadian multinationals like CANFOR, who now own mills in the US, to do the same. The real losers in this deal will be those Canadian workers in the value added (milling) sector because their jobs will disappear as the industry readjusts to US control over our forests.

We are becoming more and more reliant on the export of raw materials and this deal is just another step in the process. I predict that it will have three negative impacts on Canada: the loss of jobs in the industry, the transferal of control over crown lands to Washington (loss of provincial sovereignty over forest management), and increased costs for builders.

<a href="http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=a3e8c2dc-abb2-4a0c-b6dd-d14c8ddf521d&k=99403">http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=a3e8c2dc-abb2-4a0c-b6dd-d14c8ddf521d&k=99403</a><br />
"Lefebure points out that the taxes represent only about one per cent of Catalyst's operating expenses, but they're the lifeblood of the communities that house the mills. Those communities, which have already endured sawmill closures, slowdowns in the fishing and mining industries and the loss of residents to more prosperous regions, say they just can't absorb the loss of millions in tax revenue."<br />
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jensonj notes:<br />
"According the the Harper Government the best way for Canada to remain competitive is not to diversify......"<br />
<br />
I'd like to delve for a brief moment just what is meant by remaining "competitive". Just what does that mean when jobs are lost, and when companies bully one-industry (undiversified) communities (communities which were absolutely necessary to the successful functioning of the industry in the first place!) into tax exemptions. What does "competitve" mean when no benefit at all accrues to the local community, and in fact said community risks abandonment through loss of jobs?<br />
<br />
Copy of letter sent to Victoria Times-Colonist:<br />
<br />
"Perhaps Catalyst should be reminded that the ONLY use it serves to Island communities is through the jobs it creates and the subsequent wages which are spent locally. And perhaps Catalyst should be reminded that, with every job that is lost to be more competitive on the world stage, it is one less reason why Catalyst should be allowed to continue operating."<p>---<br>"We can have a democracy or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of the few. We cannot have both."<br />
- Justice Louis Brandeis