Post by Said1 on Aug 22, 2006 11:51:49 GMT -5
Ottawa ekes out reluctant support for softwood deal
SIMON TUCK
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
OTTAWA — The federal government appeared to be on its way late last night to wringing out enough forestry-industry support to salvage its deal to end the Canada-U.S. softwood dispute, as key producers backed the agreement instead of digging in for more legal wrangling.
An official in International Trade Minister David Emerson's office said late yesterday that the government would not comment until at least today on the tallying of the industry's views.
The deal, which appeared nearly doomed after it was signed more than a month ago, has been gaining momentum in recent days with the help of high-pressure lobbying from Ottawa and Mr. Emerson's move to water down the level of industry support the government requires.
"He's setting the bar lower, but we don't know how much lower," said Carl Grenier, executive vice-president of the Free Trade Lumber Council, and an outspoken critic of the government's deal.
SIMON TUCK
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
OTTAWA — The federal government appeared to be on its way late last night to wringing out enough forestry-industry support to salvage its deal to end the Canada-U.S. softwood dispute, as key producers backed the agreement instead of digging in for more legal wrangling.
An official in International Trade Minister David Emerson's office said late yesterday that the government would not comment until at least today on the tallying of the industry's views.
The deal, which appeared nearly doomed after it was signed more than a month ago, has been gaining momentum in recent days with the help of high-pressure lobbying from Ottawa and Mr. Emerson's move to water down the level of industry support the government requires.
"He's setting the bar lower, but we don't know how much lower," said Carl Grenier, executive vice-president of the Free Trade Lumber Council, and an outspoken critic of the government's deal.
Continued Here