Emerson Must Go/Harper Must Lead

A senior government official warned opponents of the deal (Globe and Mail, August 4th 2006): “… Should prepare themselves for the consequences of rejecting it… and might want to start contemplating a world where Ottawa is no longer in the business of subsidizing softwood disputes.” This is tough talk but what does it mean – a government in abdication? Negotiating treaties and agreements is the jurisdiction of the federal government. It is a sweet irony that the official in question uses the word “subsidizing” as this is just what this agreement does- it grants the US a massive subsidy at the expense of Canadian producers! Another “Tory official” states in the same article: “If industry rejects this deal, everyone walks away and absolutely nothing about the previous Liberal government’s costly stopgap approach to the deal is guaranteed.” This official forgets that the previous minister is also their minister. He too falters when he uses the term “stopgap” as that is just what this agreement is- it can be cancelled after two years. These officials are clearly terrified as they try to defend the indefensible. Without a doubt they want this agreement buried and away from the light of day as quickly as possible- and what better time to do it than the dog days of summer. What makes their statements even more incredulous is the recent ruling of the United States Court of International Trade that found the US duties on Canadian softwood are illegal. This ruling is a Godsend for the Canadian industry and could be the basis for a whole new set of negotiations leading to a more fair and balanced agreement. Instead of seizing the opportunity Emerson’s department simply becomes even more intransigent and hectors the very constituency they are supposed to serve and defend. Canada’s Ministry of International Trade has internalized some rather eccentric values that deserve further scrutiny. It should also come as something of an embarrassment to Emerson’s department when the Vancouver Sun publishes details of a “leaked” letter from the Bush administration to its lumber lobby confirming that its objective was to hobble the Canadian forest industry for at least seven years. This they have certainly achieved! Two underlying reasons the agreement is a sham are: Right back to the time the Mulroney conservatives negotiated the FTA which subsequently became the NAFTA they simply gave too much away. If you give up too much you have little or no leverage on future negotiations. Secondly, when the US imposed the softwood duties there was no retaliation just a bunch of vacuous rhetoric. Had Canada retaliated, it had negotiating leverage and the issue might have been settled long ago. When it comes to trade issues the US is the compulsive bully and Canadian negotiators are too timid to take even minimal risk and as a result the bullying simply escalates. There is no comity or compromise simply another poke in the eye. Obviously Emerson must go. He has had a clear mandate from two governments to deal with this issue and has botched it horribly. No amount of browbeating or deception is going to remove this stain. The prime minister for his part must lead. Mr. Harper should phone Mr. Bush and suggest that in exchange for his silent acquiescence on the rape of Lebanon he would like some consideration on softwood lumber. This is the quid pro quo of politics. Instead of being indolent bench warmers this government had better get back in the game.