International Trade committee  With regard to the matter of precedents, which also covers the domestic issue, frankly, softwood lumber has always been a little bit apart from the rest, just like milk is here in Canada. I therefore am hoping that this will not affect the other relationships there are between ou

International Trade committee  It does indeed get fairly warm, and as you will appreciate, I'm not one of the colder ones at the table. Sometimes I get pretty upset about this. First, on the question you put to Mr. Rutenberg, I agree with everything he says. As I was joking on the way in, I thought his estim

International Trade committee  I have to admit almost personal culpability. When I not only drafted the extraordinary challenge procedure but convinced a reluctant Prime Minister that it was necessary to avoid frivolous constitutional challenges, I never expected, even in my worst nightmares, that the American

International Trade committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Elliot is a great fan of litigation. Indeed, I've observed that most of the lawyers on this file are, as are their children, and their children's children.

International Trade committee  It was for the original Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement on which NAFTA was based.

International Trade committee  That would be extremely difficult, for the simple reason that that is precisely what the Americans are opposed to. I view litigation as an instrument aimed at improving our negotiating position rather than as a means to achieve a final result, because this litigation is dragging

International Trade committee  From the historical record, it is very clear that the Americans, whether Democrats or Republicans, on the Hill or in the administration, are simply not prepared to agree to free trade in lumber, period. It is their view, and was their view from the outset, that it had no part in

International Trade committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Gordon Ritchie. I chair the public affairs practice at Hill and Knowlton Canada, which includes the B.C. lumber industry among its clients. But I should underscore the fact that I'm speaking today strictly in a personal capacity, based on my