Now about that softwood lumber issue...

[Phlyer]

Louisiana senator: Thank you Canada
Last Updated Thu, 08 Sep 2005 07:12:44 EDT
CBC News

A Louisiana state senator has praised a Canadian search and rescue team. Senator Walter Boasso said a Vancouver-based team reached St. Bernard parish five days before the U.S. army got there.

"Fabulous, fabulous guys," Boasso said. "They started rolling with us and got in boats to save people ... We've got Canadian flags flying everywhere."

* RELATED STORY: 20,000 Canadian cots sent for hurricane relief

The suburb of 68,000 people was initially ignored by U.S. authorities who were scrambling to get aid to New Orleans. Boasso said floodwater in his parish is still 2.4 metres deep in some places.

He said residents of the outlying parishes had to mount their own rescue and relief efforts when Hurricane Katrina struck last week.

The U.S. government response to the disaster has been widely criticized. Some politicians and editorial writers have called for the resignation of top Bush administration officials.

Boasso saved his praise for the Canadians and their quick work. "They were so glad to be here," he said. "They're still here. They are actually going door-to-door looking in the attics" for people to rescue.

[LostinRotation]

Well most of those houses are no longer going to be habitable....that water is a toxic soup that will soak into everything imaginable. All those houses are going to be buldozed, and when they start looking to rebuild, who are they going to turn to for wood products ?

-=0=LIR=0=-

[Phlyer]

Good point. I hope the issues are resolved by then. I imagine there will be many Canucks down there working on the rebuilding also.

[Airtids]

Screw resolving the issue! These ba$tards owe us $10 bil in illegal duties, and have all but said they will NEVER pay. We need to immediately slap a 27% export duty on all Canadian wood products. I feel sorry for the people, but no sympathy for the situation their protectionist trade policies have created.

[Phlyer]

Tids - that mentality (on both sides) is the reason this mess has dragged on so long.

[Wild Cat]

[Airtids]

Sorry, foto, but I don't buy that. When mistakes are made (such as tarriff's being imposed where none were warranted, and that is being incredibly generous), and not one, but TWO international trade courts deem foul play to have been at issue, and the offending party refuses to repay the damage done, then you stop playing nice. I don't see a protectionist attitude in this coutry's trade policy that come even close to those of the Americans. Please don't misinterpret this as America Bashing. I've got absolutely no problem with the people, it's the policies of the government those people elected that I have a beef (excuse the pun) with.

[Phlyer]

Well put. I agree that the US really needs to step up to the plate and give the respect a world court deserves. My point is that the WTO is the one to dictate tarrifs that should or shouldn't be charged, not member states. International disputes should be resolved by the court and adheared to; sinking to the US's level will only cause more delays. I realise this is an idealistic view but it's about all we've got right now.

[CID]

I had a problem with soft wood once. It was alcohol related. No need for Viagra yet.

[golden hawk]

[oldncold]

CAN YOU SAY TAX THE OIL GOING SOUTH SAY 5 BUCKS A BARREL AND 3BUCK A 1000 CUBIC METERS OF NATURAL GAS

1/use that to money to recover the softwood lumber duties and DON'T GIVE IT BACK
2/ use the cash to reduce the price we canadians pay at the pump.

[LostinRotation]

Tids - that mentality (on both sides) is the reason this mess has dragged on so long.

If you do nothing when someone pisses in your cornflakes, you better learn to like the taste.....I'm 100% behind Airtids.


-=0=LIR=0=-

[hazatude]

If we suspended all trade with the US and closed the border, we would be better off. We don't need America's money!


(I'm just kidding)

(We really need America's money)

(We love you guys)

(Go Bills)

[Jaques Strappe]

Who needs the Americans as a trade partner when you have China. I would just start doing less and less business with them.

[hazatude]

I'll vote for you Mr. Strappe.

Unfortunately you have to be a French Lawyer to run this country and we all know that those types are owned by big American money.

[Expat]

What is exactly happening is that the Forest Owners' lobby is screwing the little american people. What Canada should do is go to the press and let the Americans really know why their lumber is so expensive! May be when the US government starts paying for construction projects, they will wake up and smell the soup(too late for coffee).
We have to play their game, or ignore them...

[KAG]

The thing that really gets me is if the table's were turned and we owned them $10Billion, you know they would be demanding payment not just asking for it.


Cheers.

[ice ice baby]

Along with tariffs on products going to the states, maybe Alberta should announce that with it's surplus it's going to retrofit the pipeline taking the oil south. Or just a call for tenders might do. Oh and by the way we'll have to take the pipeline off line for 6 months or so for the construction. Since we're short on skilled labour it might be a bit longer.

[Jeremy]

We should send them as much lumber as they need to rebuild after the hurricane.

But they have to be delivered by cow. One cow equals, what...say 10 board-feet??


RJ

[Phlyer]

Great ideas. Let's do an export tax for hockey players. That kid in Pittsburg ought to be worth a few feet of lumber...
Seriously, I don't like the taste of piss in my cornflakes (as someone put it) but I find it ironic that someone can bitch about unfair tarrifs from the states on one hand and then say we should do the same to them on the other. I wish we had some politicians that had enough sack to stand up to them; but you just don't see a beaver taking on an elephant too often.

[grouchy]

I would think that the price of lumber is going to go up not too shortly. How much is sitting in reserve?
How much would it take to rebuild a city the size of New Orleans? Not to mention any of the other places.

[xsbank]

If we can help the US by sending our lumber, then we should just do it. Then we should renegotiate the 'agreement' and throw Mr. Dithers out of Ottawa. Then vote in Duceppe, because he is "distinct."

Just because Dithers and Bush are morons shouldn't stop us from helping out the flood victims. And I was kidding about Duceppe - just look at how f*cked up Quebec is - they couldn't operate a popsicle stand.
Oh except that you can buy beer in actual stores there, even Costco, which is just way too civilized for words.

[CID]

I agree somewhat with xsbank. We shouldn't let the trade dispute interfere with aid.

But....we should be much more agressive at the bargaining table with the US. The culture down there demands it. They don't even respect the polite manner in which we try to wage these battles.

[Chantal]

We can't help it if our government is so corrupted and in the kahoots with your government. Yeah it is our fault for being so stupid but now I know why Americans are hated so much.

[CID]

Chantal....huh?