SOFTWOOD LUMBER AGREEMENT TO BENEFIT CANADIAN INDUSTRY
“I have received correspondence from constituents in the Hudson Bay area concerned about this agreement, but I believe it is the best agreement we could get.”

OTTAWA - After years of instability in the Canadian Softwood Lumber industry, Canada and the United States signed an agreement on September 12, 2006, that will serve as a far superior alternative to the years of uncertain litigation and trade conflict. The agreement passed its first vote in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon.

“The agreement signed by Canada’s International Trade Minister David Emerson and United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab, brings stability and prosperity to Canada’s softwood lumber industry and to the many companies, communities, workers and families whose livelihoods depend on it,” said Garry Breitkreuz, Member of Parliament for Yorkton-Melville. “I have received correspondence from constituents in the Hudson Bay area who are concerned about this agreement, but I believe it is the best agreement we could get. It is not perfect, but it is far superior to the continued trade dispute with the U.S. – especially given the current market conditions. Had we prolonged the negotiations, it would have benefited lawyers, but likely no one else.”

The Lumber Agreement is a fair deal for Canada and provides:
• Stable and predictable access to the U.S. market;
• The repayment of $4 billion in disputed duties;
• Provincial and regional flexibility; and
• Certainty, instead of costly litigation.

“Minister Emerson has already announced plans to put more than US $4.3 billion into the hands of Canadian softwood producers,” said Breitkreuz, “and we are committed to the swift return of duty deposits to individual softwood producers, and to fairness for all companies benefiting from the signed agreement.”

The Lumber Agreement has the support of two national governments, all of the major softwood producing provinces and over 90 per cent of the industry from British Columbia to Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

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