WESTERN MINISTERS MEET TO DISCUSS SOFTWOOD LUMBER DISPUTE
WHISTLER – Ministers from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon met today to discuss the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber dispute.
The ministers noted the strength of the Canadian legal case being presented in the current litigation. They said it should be clear that Canadian softwood lumber production is not subsidized.
They agreed to continue to co-operate on the legal defence and to give full encouragement to the federal government and the industry, both in the U.S. legal proceedings and in international proceedings like the World Trade Organization. They said there should be no waning in the effort to demonstrate the validity of the Canadian argument against the unwarranted allegations by U.S. industry.
The ministers noted the strong co-operation between the federal and provincial governments and commended federal Minister for International Trade Pierre Pettigrew on his efforts to date. In discussing the long-standing nature of the dispute, the ministers agreed on the importance of finding a lasting resolution to this two-decade old trade irritant and of obtaining free trade in lumber with the United States.
The ministers recognized it was also necessary to consider alternatives to the lengthy and expensive legal process if these could bring about a lasting resolution to differences. Thus they supported ongoing exploratory discussions that have been undertaken with the U.S. government.
Regarding these exploratory discussions, the ministers agreed they should include an examination of forestry and related practices on both sides of the border. The ministers were also united in opposing any discussion of a restrictive export quota of the type contained in the previous softwood lumber agreement.
The ministers also agreed that provinces, as owners of the resource; and the Yukon; which is actively negotiating with Canada for control of the resource; must be fully involved in any discussions with the United States, and that Canada should stand united.
Finally, the ministers agreed that an ongoing western dialogue was beneficial and that co-ordination of western input should be continued.
Attending were:
• Honourable Michael de Jong, British Columbia Minister of Forests
• Honourable Halvar Jonson, Alberta Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations
• Honourable Chris Axworthy, Saskatchewan Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
• Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Manitoba Minister of Industry, Trade and Mines
• Honourable Scott Kent, Yukon Minister of Economic Development
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Reference # 2001:083 *
Released on Jul 26, 2001 *
Region Province Wide *
Category General
Contact
Dan Evans
Economics and Trade Branch
Ministry of Forests
250 356-7669
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