Check out the interview with Minister Emerson this morning. If this is an act it is a really good act because afterwards I kinda felt bad for the guy. It appears that in his own twisted way he believes he is doing the right thing. It may well have been the right thing for him to have done. I doubt it was the right thing for PM Harper to have done though.
If you look at the story connected with the interview you can see that the Liberals could have had a deal on Softwood Lumber but Minister Emerson decided against it.
According to a report in the Toronto Star, colleagues and officials privy to the softwood talks insist Emerson delayed a softwood lumber deal with the United States from being finalized before the federal election.They say he was worried a pre-election announcement would damage Liberal prospects in key British Columbia ridings, the Star reported.
Reached by telephone last night, Emerson told the Star that he did raise concerns about the proposal, but rejected suggestions his resistance was politically motivated. He said the deal just wasn't good enough.
However, Liberals and non-partisan sources say the B.C. government and its powerful forestry industry lost interest with the deal after meetings with Emerson.
The Star reports that the deal called for Washington to reimburse about 75 per cent of the disputed tariffs imposed on Canadian lumber. And British Columbia would have implemented higher stumpage fees to prevent mills in its interior from flooding the U.S. market with cheap wood harvested from areas hit by the mountain pine beetle infestations.
If I am to take Minister Emerson at this word any agreement reached will have to be better than the one above. I have one question - would Prime Minister designate Harper know that a deal was this close when he was elected? If so you can see why he want to bring David Emerson on board.
Comments (6)
Perhaps you should have mentioned that the same story said the PMO wanted to kill the deal as Martin thought he would get more votes by America-bashing than settling.
Posted by Jim | February 9, 2006 9:38 AM
Posted on February 9, 2006 09:38
What do you think of Harper’s “superficial criticism” crack?
Posted by Greg | February 9, 2006 9:44 AM
Posted on February 9, 2006 09:44
Fuel.
Posted by Greg Staples | February 9, 2006 9:51 AM
Posted on February 9, 2006 09:51
Greg, it seems to me that an unattractive softwood deal is not sufficient to prompt Harper to invite Emerson into cabinet. The US will deal with any Conservate representative. I think it is time we put aside our upset over this affair.
John
Posted by Anonymous | February 9, 2006 10:02 AM
Posted on February 9, 2006 10:02
So, according to Toronto Star columnist Jim Travers, Emerson was the only guy who did not want a deal ??!! And Martin and the rest of the Liberal party couldn’t bend Emerson’s position ??!! That’s baloney! If Emerson did in fact opposed a deal, that’s because 1) he was permitted to do so by higher authorities (hello Martin !), and 2) he wasn’t alone among the rest of the Liberal team. In the current system where PMO holds greater power and ministers represent almost just a focus group, I just don’t swallow the baseless partisan Liberal theory on which Emerson was individually powerful enough to block a deal on softwood lumber with the U.S.
Posted by M Morin | February 9, 2006 10:39 AM
Posted on February 9, 2006 10:39
It sounds more like Emerson went to the boss and said. “We are going to take a hit in B.C. if we announce this now.” and the boss said “Ok Dave, you know your people.”
Posted by Greg | February 9, 2006 10:47 AM
Posted on February 9, 2006 10:47