Yesterday in the Senate, the motion that Senator Ringuette presented on May 31, 2006, to study and report on the Canada-United States agreement on softwood lumber, was adopted. It will be studied by the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
“I believe that there is a serious requirement for transparency and the need for at least an examination of this agreement and its consequences on our industry and its workers. Canadians want good governance. They want to know what is the content and, most importantly, consequences of the agreements that the Government will sign on their behalf. They want greater openness and transparency” stated Senator Ringuette.
The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs will analyze, among other things, the impact of Canada's resource management on sovereignty, the impact on the interpretation of NAFTA chapters 11 and 19, and provisions contained in the agreement with regard to financial support for the industry and its workers. The committee will submit its final report no later than October 2, 2006.
“We cannot afford a short-term gain for a long-term pain. If we don't get it right, then this deal will turn out be worse for our Canadian Forest Industry than what we see now” declared Senator Ringuette.