Decima Research Poll On Softwood Lumber Options

[mirror]

Decima Research has just completed polling Canadians about the softwood lumber dispute.

Canadians would prefer a negotiated settlement, however if that is not possible the higest support for retaliation is the Layton New Democrats proposal for an export tax on oil and gas exports, and the province with the highest support for this is Alberta.

Canadians prefer negotiation, but support some forms of trade retaliation

I also heard on the radio tonite that a major Canadian lumber company, Interfor I believe, is pulling out of the lumber alliance in BC. Their CEO said there is no need to be involved anymore as Canada has won the softwood lumber fight with the US. He said that NAFTA is the only legal body and the WTO decision is of no consequence.

So it sounds like the US better belly up to the bar and pay up or NAFTA is done like dinner.

[mirror]

Finally the US is starting to clue in that we mean business:

Growing chorus lists U.S. investment in Canadian energy sector and Alaska gas pipeline as leverage points in timber dispute

[err]

Actually, pulling out of NAFTA would be preferable. The neo-cons in this newsgroup may think that I "hate trade", but I'm afraid they wouldn't even listen to either the facts or a good argument....

[Toro]

The Terasen thing is a bad idea. No sense punishing Canadian shareholders. However, delaying the Alaska pipeline is interesting. I'm not sure what the downside would be.

[shoop]

Actually, pulling out of NAFTA would be preferable.  The neo-cons in this newsgroup may think that I "hate trade", but I'm afraid they wouldn't even listen to either the facts or a good argument....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why don't you actually make a good argument and quit resorting to blanket insults like 'neo-con' while you are at it?

[Riverwind]

The Terasen thing is a bad idea.  No sense punishing Canadian shareholders.  However, delaying the Alaska pipeline is interesting.  I'm not sure what the downside would be.

Actually, blocking the Alaska pipeline is a dumb idea. The US would just route the oil down to coast of Alaska and take it by ship. May cost more but at least they don't have to deal with cranky neighbors. Blocking the Terasen deal would have the least advesre effects on Canadians since Canadian shareholders would still own a piece of a profitable company that will continue to pay higher dividends. Short term investers may gripe but on the whole Canadian investors would not be hurt much if the deal did not go through.