Prince George, B.C.-B.C’s  Special Envoy  to the U.S, David Emerson,  will be racking up the air miles this week as he attends meetings  aimed at securing a new Softwood Lumber Agreement.

Today,  he is in Ottawa,  to meet with senior government officials .  “These are key meetings to discuss our collective strategies on how Canada and the provinces can partner to secure a softwood agreement”  says BC’s Minister of Forests Steve Thomson.

Then  Emerson will  be heading to Washington.   Minister Thomson says Emerson will be taking part in ” softwood briefings and meet with embassy staff and key American stakeholders including the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere, the U.S. National Association of Homebuilders‎, and key senators.”

Minister Thomson says the meetings are  aimed at  advancing B.C’s softwood lumber interests in the U.S.  as well as ” ensuring key decision makers understand how B.C. softwood lumber products support the prosperity of the U.S. housing and construction sectors and why  achieving a negotiated settlement is also in their best interest.”

One platform of the strategy   is to point out to  American  decision makers that  increasing  the cost of  softwood lumber from  Canada,  will  increase the cost of  home  construction in the U.S.  and damage that nation’s  efforts to kick start its economy.