B.C. Premier, Emerson Slam NDP for Promise to Negotiate New Softwood Deal

(Globe & Mail)

NDP Leader Jack Layton was roundly criticized Friday for proposing to tear up the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber agreement, with both B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and former international trade minister David Emerson saying the idea is preposterous.

The B.C. Premier waded into the federal election campaign for the first time Friday, denouncing Mr. Layton’s stance on softwood. The deal, Mr. Campbell said, has been a lifeline for the hard-hit B.C. forest sector.

“You want to rip up the softwood lumber agreement? Give your head a shake,” Mr. Campbell said in a speech to municipal leaders in Penticton.

Mr. Campbell later acknowledged to reporters that Mr. Layton was the target of his comments

“I think Mr. Layton has shown a profound ignorance, both of the agreement and the impact his statements will have on British Columbia,” Mr. Campbell told reporters. “It would be significantly damaging to British Columbians ... that’s going to cause huge job losses at a time when forestry can’t afford any more challenges.”

Mr. Layton this week promised he would scrap the “sellout” deal, negotiate new lumber deals with the U.S., and restrict raw log exports to encourage local development. He says the deal needs to be reassessed because of mill closures and job losses in the industry despite the deal.

In an interview Friday, Mr. Emerson forecast permanent mill closures and job cuts if Mr. Layton was ever able to act on that idea, adding Canada would “get creamed in a negotiation today on softwood lumber.”

“What is [Mr. Layton] going to put on the table that is going to force the Americans, incent the Americans to come up with a better deal than we have today?” asked Mr. Emerson.

“What is it he’s going to give them? He may have some brilliant idea that has passed me by.”

Mr. Emerson said he expected Canada would end up with an inferior agreement if it took another shot at negotiating one. Read more here.