What makes you think we were about to win anything with the US? How many times have we've proven our case only to be rebuffed by the US. The Liberals couldn't do it either so it's very doubtfull we were going to get anywhere without cutting some sort of deal. It's not great and if affects my region quite deeply but it's hardly Harper sucking up to the US.Now it's the same crap. In the last softwood lumber deal with the American Harper rammed it through weeks before we won the case that would have seen all tariffs lifted and all money returned. In the deal the White House got 500 million in discretionary funds and the U.S. lumber lobby got another 500 million to fight us in the next round whenever that comes up. A major sell-out of people who had been fighting for fair trade for years.
Wrong, you said it was a shame I found something funny. Therefore, finding something funny is shameful in your opinion.I said nothing of the sort.
I said it was a shame you felt that way.
Right on, Andem. I think if I were Harper, as soon as the Yanks got there, I'd pack our troops up and bring em home.
Wrong - being our good and great neighbor to the south - plus our largest trading partner - plus they look like us or we look like them - plus we essentially all kida started out on the Mayflower - plus, whatever your thoughts re Bush - he is the President of the United States of America - so, yes, I for one would want the President to sing our praises.Bush has never liked Canada and even referred to Mexico as their most important neighbour after Canada took care of all diverted flights on 11.09.01. This is old news and Canadians are certainly not the type of people that would even accept or want praises from Bush.
As soon as the Yanks got where? Afghanistan?
Are they teaching you folks that Canadians were in Afghanistan first now? ukeright: ukeright:
What makes you think we were about to win anything with the US? How many times have we've proven our case only to be rebuffed by the US. The Liberals couldn't do it either so it's very doubtfull we were going to get anywhere without cutting some sort of deal. It's not great and if affects my region quite deeply but it's hardly Harper sucking up to the US.
Oh, well. I've been wrong before and have the fortitude to admit it.Sorry, but you are wrong.
I meant that it was a shame you felt that way.
If you want to invent what I meant go ahead.
Yes.As soon as the Yanks got where? Afghanistan?
No.Are they teaching you folks that Canadians were in Afghanistan first now? ukeright: ukeright:
Not sure what town you're in but the heaviest blow the forest industry in the Kootenays got came from the NDP, not the softwood lumber stuff.Hmmm...thought I read in the papers a couple of weeks after the Harper softwood deal went through that we'd won in the U.S. courts and would have got everything back plus no tariffs. Kind of interesting how the White House and the U.S. lumber lobby got to split over $1 billion dollars that rightfully belongs to Canadian producers. We were making slow headway and Harper killed it with his agreement. He played hardball with lumber companies, telling them they were their own if they didn't sign on with his deal. We won many challenges in the trade boards and all that effort was thrown away because it was done under the Liberals. I live in town where we had seven lumber companies operating five years ago. Now we have two. Don't think people here will forget that come next election.
Looks thataway.So let me get this straight - you guys are upset because a man you loathe doesn't recognize you as his best friend?
:scratch:
You don't like Harper that's fine, but let's not credit him with things he doesn't deserve. The agreement we got was largely hammered out by Emerson, which was begun when he was a Liberal. It's not perfect but most companies are behind it because if finally gives some stability to the industry. We may have won many challenges at the various trade organizations but we didn't win them all, and this disagreement could have gone on for many more years. Considering this agreement only lasts seven years we'll probably be at this again very soon. If you remember the softwood lumber agreement that the Liberals signed before this, it wasn't any better.Hmmm...thought I read in the papers a couple of weeks after the Harper softwood deal went through that we'd won in the U.S. courts and would have got everything back plus no tariffs. Kind of interesting how the White House and the U.S. lumber lobby got to split over $1 billion dollars that rightfully belongs to Canadian producers. We were making slow headway and Harper killed it with his agreement. He played hardball with lumber companies, telling them they were their own if they didn't sign on with his deal. We won many challenges in the trade boards and all that effort was thrown away because it was done under the Liberals. I live in town where we had seven lumber companies operating five years ago. Now we have two. Don't think people here will forget that come next election.
The hypocracy is baffling around here Colpy!!!???DEAD ON!
Geezus, one minute the lefties are crying because we are too close to Bush, the next they whine because Daddy Bush has not patted them on the head.
Spare me.
Ya free trade only lost us certain lower wage jobs, but brought higher wage, skilled and technical jobs up north, increasing both the economy and our standard of living.Now or then?
Back then Mulroney seemed more concerned with helping the U.S. economy than Canadas'. Free trade was a joke especially if you're in the softwood lumber trade.
Now it's the same crap. In the last softwood lumber deal with the American Harper rammed it through weeks before we won the case that would have seen all tariffs lifted and all money returned. In the deal the White House got 500 million in discretionary funds and the U.S. lumber lobby got another 500 million to fight us in the next round whenever that comes up. A major sell-out of people who had been fighting for fair trade for years.
On a personal level I think it's a disgrace that our Foreign Affairs minister is seemingly having one with the Secretary of State of the U.S. It's unproffessional at the least and compromises our foreign policy, which is pretty much run from south of the border now anyway.
Perhaps as a result of the rather unfeeling and uncaring attitude of your dear leader Cretin!!!??Not quite!
If the so-called leader of the free world mentions one country, he has to mention them all. Leaving out Canada was a deliberate affront, as it would be with any country that had made a significant contribution to this effort. Nobody could be that stupid. This is not the first time Bush has left Canada out of his praise after we had made the effort.
Yep there is a reason, short sighted people that think the Liberals actually increased the economy. For more scroll back, I already answered the rest of your post."What's even funnier is that softwood lumber has always been excluded under the free trade agreements, and yet many keep bringing it up as if it were. Oh ya, Canada took exception to Canadian Cultural issues under the free trade agreements."
My point exactly.
One of our major industries was excluded from an agreement that was supposed to guarentee free trade. And thousands of our manufacturing jobs went south and then even further south when American companies started setting up shop in Mexico.
There's a reason the Conservative Party virtually dissappered during the early 1990s.
Yep yep yep!!!Bush never liked Canada ever since Gore was an official Canadian hopeful.
This thread is really childish. The same people bitching how much of a moron bush is and who the hell listens to anything he says, now complain about something he didn't say.
Hellloooooo!
The dead Canadian Soldiers? Bush didn't kill them, the Afghan insurgents did. Besides that, I highly doubt you have one ioda of an idea as to what our Troops are thinking, while still alive. All my friends curently serving, a couple of which are going back soon, have expressed that they are in fact facing considerable opposition, but what is growing in their wake, is better then what was there, when they arrived.I'm sure the dead Canadian soldiers are laughing their guts out right now.
Thank you Mr. Bush.ukeright:
Yes they are Toro, can you smell the hypocracy where you are too?So let me get this straight - you guys are upset because a man you loathe doesn't recognize you as his best friend?
:scratch:
Washington? Lopez? Curious George? lmao!George who?
Stop telling the truth RUEZ, the short sighted rarely remember anything beyond Mulroney's deficit.You don't like Harper that's fine, but let's not credit him with things he doesn't deserve. The agreement we got was largely hammered out by Emerson, which was begun when he was a Liberal. It's not perfect but most companies are behind it because if finally gives some stability to the industry. We may have won many challenges at the various trade organizations but we didn't win them all, and this disagreement could have gone on for many more years. Considering this agreement only lasts seven years we'll probably be at this again very soon. If you remember the softwood lumber agreement that the Liberals signed before this, it wasn't any better.
rotflmffao!!!
Ouch ouch..... Canada on the warpath ....
down with George Bush the evil empire builder...