PRESS RELEASE: National interests betrayed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 3, 2006
Toronto, ON - Less than a year ago what ought to have been Stephen Harper's position regarding the softwood lumber dispute were enunciated by him in Halifax:
"Under a Conservative government, we will stand up when our national interests are at stake.
We will stand up for Canada
THE CALL TO THE PRESIDENT
It is at least now established that the Prime Minister and President will speak about the softwood issue in the hopefully-not-too-distant future. If I were Prime Minister at that time, what would a Conservative Prime Minister say in that conversation?
First and foremost, I would seek a clear commitment of the United States to comply with the NAFTA ruling. If the Canada-U.S. trade relationship is to remain a fair, stable, rules-based system, then the United States has a moral obligation to return those duties to Canadian lumber companies.
There can be no question of Canada returning to a conventional bargaining table, as the U.S. Ambassador has suggested.
You don't negotiate after you've won.
The issue is compliance.
And achieving full compliance should be the objective of the Prime Minister.
The Geneva Agreement initialled on Canada Day was arrived at through "returning to a conventional bargaining table". By it national interests are in the process of being betrayed. The result was not compliance with the dispute mechanisms of the North American Free Trade Agreement. It is an agreement which if implemented will sets this precedent for other disputes that will arise under the North American Free Trade Agreement, that the Canadian Government will cut and run rather than stand firm.
Law suits are still in process that may yet place the United States with little choice but to accept, as the then Leader of the Opposition phrased it, "a fair, stable, rules-based system" of settling trade disputes.
What must be carefully watched for are any indications the Government of Canada is pressuring private companies to act against their interests as they see them.
The Progressive Canadian (PC) Party is a registered Federal Political Party comprised of progressive-conservative minded Canadians rebuilding from the roots of the former Progressive Conservative Party. For more information on the PC Party, it’s policies, structure or general information, go to http://www.progressivecanadian.org/ or call 866-812-6972.
Tracy Parsons, Leader
Progressive Canadian Party
Tel 866-812-6972
tracy.parsons@pcparty.org
Jim Love, President
Progressive Canadian Party
Tel (647) 403-5519
jim.love@pcparty.org
SOURCE OF QUOTE:Address by the Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P. Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada Leader of the Official Opposition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 3, 2006
Toronto, ON - Less than a year ago what ought to have been Stephen Harper's position regarding the softwood lumber dispute were enunciated by him in Halifax:
"Under a Conservative government, we will stand up when our national interests are at stake.
We will stand up for Canada
THE CALL TO THE PRESIDENT
It is at least now established that the Prime Minister and President will speak about the softwood issue in the hopefully-not-too-distant future. If I were Prime Minister at that time, what would a Conservative Prime Minister say in that conversation?
First and foremost, I would seek a clear commitment of the United States to comply with the NAFTA ruling. If the Canada-U.S. trade relationship is to remain a fair, stable, rules-based system, then the United States has a moral obligation to return those duties to Canadian lumber companies.
There can be no question of Canada returning to a conventional bargaining table, as the U.S. Ambassador has suggested.
You don't negotiate after you've won.
The issue is compliance.
And achieving full compliance should be the objective of the Prime Minister.
The Geneva Agreement initialled on Canada Day was arrived at through "returning to a conventional bargaining table". By it national interests are in the process of being betrayed. The result was not compliance with the dispute mechanisms of the North American Free Trade Agreement. It is an agreement which if implemented will sets this precedent for other disputes that will arise under the North American Free Trade Agreement, that the Canadian Government will cut and run rather than stand firm.
Law suits are still in process that may yet place the United States with little choice but to accept, as the then Leader of the Opposition phrased it, "a fair, stable, rules-based system" of settling trade disputes.
What must be carefully watched for are any indications the Government of Canada is pressuring private companies to act against their interests as they see them.
The Progressive Canadian (PC) Party is a registered Federal Political Party comprised of progressive-conservative minded Canadians rebuilding from the roots of the former Progressive Conservative Party. For more information on the PC Party, it’s policies, structure or general information, go to http://www.progressivecanadian.org/ or call 866-812-6972.
-30-
For more information or to request an interview, please contact:Tracy Parsons, Leader
Progressive Canadian Party
Tel 866-812-6972
tracy.parsons@pcparty.org
Jim Love, President
Progressive Canadian Party
Tel (647) 403-5519
jim.love@pcparty.org
SOURCE OF QUOTE:Address by the Hon. Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P. Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada Leader of the Official Opposition
posted by TB at 5:41 AM
1 Comments:
The alternative to the craven New Tory party's capitulation to Bush on the softwood issue is very simple.
The NDP, Bloc and Liberals have the majority votes in Parliament. They could agree to pass legislation which would direct the government to table the following revised proposal with the Bush government:
1. Term - The term should be ten years, with no early termination possible unless both sides agree, and the Canadian government is to agree only if a majority of MPs through a free vote (on a non-party basis) in Parliament for an earlier renewal.
2. Automatic renewals - Renewal period should be for automatic five year periods, unless notice of termination is given by either side 12 months before the end of a term (and the Government of Canada would need a majority vote of MPs to give such notice, through a free non-party vote).
3. Payment - Full payment of the $5 billion (yes, that is right, the amount owed under the applicable laws), plus interest on overdue amounts at 5% p.a..
4. No litigation - American lumber companies to agree not to litigate the settlement.
5. Reaffirmation of NAFTA - American government to reaffirm its commitment to the NAFTA treaty.
6. Failure of US to agree -
a. Should the US government not agree to this proposal, then Canada to continue with litigation.
b. Canadian government to fund such litigation by Canadian companies.
c. If the USA takes steps to penalize lumber imports from Canada due to failure to reach agreement as above, the Canadian government is to appoint a Royal Commission with a mandate to review what steps should be taken by the Canadian government to uphold the NAFTA, including whether to terminate the NAFTA (what is the point of an agreement with a government which does not honour its commitments?).
d. Royal Commission to report by February 28 2007.
e. Canadian government to review the findings of the Royal Commission and take such steps as the majority of MPs agree to through a free non-party vote.
f. Canadian government would use taxpayers money to assist Canadian companies who needed assistance due to the non-payment by the Americans of the debt they are refusing to pay.
So, you see: the answer is really simple. All you need is a bit of backbone as the Prime Minister of a country which entered into a treaty with another government in full expectation that the other government would honour its obligations, and not welsh when it suited it.
Our MPs would be in a position where they could reflect the views of their various constituents, as the later votes would be a non-party vote on the issues set out above.
Who will take the lead to stand up for Canada?
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