Canadian Leader Claims Most of Lumber Industry Backs Pact With U.S.
In a step forward for a U.S.-Canadian lumber trade agreement, Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper says "a clear majority" within his country's timber industry supports the proposed pact.
Harper said Aug. 22 in Ottawa that after asking for support from more than 300 Canadian lumber producers, "we have received a clear majority of support from companies in all regions." Harper didn't specify what percentage of the industry said it would back the pact. Bob Klager, a spokesman for Minister of International Trade David Emerson, said Aug. 23 that officials are "taking a couple of days" to confirm the companies' final positions and would not talk about specific figures.