Let’s see, the “deal” we reached with the Americans on softwood lumber stifles our lumber exports to current levels and forces our Conservative government to implement further, almost Statlinistic provincial quotas in lumber trade; it even pays the legal fees of the US Lumber interests, some twenty two percent of five billion dollars worth, or about one point one billion dollars, suggesting that they were in the right to begin with and, and, unbelievably, it has a caveat clause regarding future Canadian jurisdiction over the resources in question, a clear threat to Canadian sovereignty.

That is quite a pill to swallow in the face of our Prime Minister dislocating his shoulder while patting himself on the back publicly for agreeing to this nonsense.  If this is the best that we can do with respect to lumber, a small but significant Canadian natural resource, what can we expect in the future with regard to what will be our most crucial ones, namely, oil and potable water.  This “deal” suggests Canada is all but impotent in our ability to negotiate a fair arrangement for free trade with the US on an item that is very low on the American trade priority radar.

The slippery slope is a real concern.  As oil prices continue to rise; as demand for our fresh water increases in the US, one must seriously wonder what kind of cooperation we can expect on significant trade issues, essential supply items for the US, after having capitulated our position, possibly our sovereignty, on this matter.

h/t: Robert