Clock Ticking on Softwood Deal
By 250 News
There are just a couple of days left before lumber industry players have to let Trade Minister Dasvid Emerson know if they will back the softwood lumber deal.
Emerson has said he will wait for word from them before making a decision on taking the matter to Parliament.
"Absolutely, this deal will be done," That is how John Brink, President of Brink Forest Products describes the Softwood lumber agreement with the US.
He says the Boards of Directors for the major forest companies have been sent out their ballot and the results will be made available by Monday at the close of business. “It is a done deal" says Brink.
Meantime, speaking about a panel that has been struck to look at the issue of the export of raw logs, Brink says, "I am no fan of the export of raw logs in any manner, but in connection with the soft wood lumber deal, the argument was put forward from private producers that if the export of raw logs does not have any duties attached, then it should hold that the lumber produced from those logs should not also. "
That was part of the Agreement and the provincial government has given out a short time frame to look at the issue . Brink would rather not see raw logs shipped "I believe that any value that can be added to our wood must be added here, but I also understand it was part of the lumber deal to look at this issue."
Previous Story - Next Story
Email
Print
Facebook
Twitter
Digg
Del.icio.usReturn to Home
Posted by: Gofaster on August 18 2006 5:46 PM
Now that the lumber mills have stock piled thier goods, layoffs will follow. Citizens, mill workers, become the victims of supply and demand, market place economics. Boom and bust, boom and bust, fart, belch, and nod.
It's like hearing them say. Let me take your resources for cheap and I will give you a job, but I didn't say for how long. Oh and by the way, I will sell lumber back to you at hefty open market prices.
There is something seriously wrong with this picture.
Free trade has added a new dimension to the supply and demand principle. It doesn't apply to the citizens of the country, only to big business, and of course governments.
How about a new deal for big business who target our nonrenewable resources, and our utilities. This is the deal. You can take the resources on the condition that they are sold back to the citizens of the province and or the country for cost, and the surplus is yours to put on the stock exchanges at marketplace supply and demand prices. You recieve no welfare grants to make it work. You take the risk like any other business. Take it or leave it. Take it or get out.