Softwood lumber: fight for fairness continues.

• Author: Wilson, Jim
• Position: Guest Column - Residents of northern Ontario communities are concerned about failed negotiations with the United States - Brief Article - Column

The forest industry has always been a vital part of the Ontario economy. It provides direct employment to over 20,000 people and helps support the economies of over 40 communities, the majority of which are in Northern Ontario.

On March 21, 2002, the softwood lumber negotiations between Canada and the United States broke off, leaving Canada with subsidy and dumping duties totalling 27 per cent.

Potential sawmill closures, caused by the negative impact of countervailing duties levied by the U.S. could have a permanent, devastating effect on many northern communities.

This troubles me deeply so I recently joined the many northerners taking pen to paper to voice their concerns.

My colleague, Jerry Ouellette, minister of natural resources, joined me in writing to the federal minister for International Trade, Pierre Pettigrew. We asked Minister Pettigrew to do his utmost for the people of Northern Ontario and for the well-being of communities across the country.

Specifically, we asked the minister for two things.

First, to ensure additional community-adjustment assistance is made available to enhance local infrastructure so that new enterprises are attracted to the North.

Second, to keep Ontario involved and informed of any efforts to lobby Congress and mobilize potential allies in the U.S. We urged the minister that we need to continue to fight, on every possible front, to ensure free and unfettered access to the U.S. markets for Ontario's forest industry.

We welcome the opportunity to work cooperatively with the federal government to maximize these efforts.

Because talks with the U.S. broke down the federal government, on...