Abstract This paper discusses the Softwood Lumbar Agreement between Canada and the United States. It describes the different interests of the federal and the provincial governments in the Agreement and the implication of the Agreement for the federal government of Canada. The paper discusses Canada's objectives in entering into the Free Trade Agreements with the United States. It argues that Canadian interests are not being served by the free trade agreements. Finally, the paper looks at the the Alberta Softwood Lumber Trade Council and its representation on Canadian interests.
From the Paper "Clearly, the diverse range of the ASLTC's disagreements with the proposed agreement do not offer much room for compromise. In order to address these problems, it would seem that the entire agreement would have to be opened up and the U.S. government "forced" to accept a much longer term agreement (unlikely); that the rest of Canada should recognize Alberta's particular circumstances with a pest (unlikely); and that someone should refund the Alberta industry its $100 million in legal fees (unlikely). Clearly, this interest group reflect the general intransigence of single-issue interest groups. Moreover, the fact that it is not bothering to advocate directly to the federal government, but is instead using its influence on the provincial government of Alberta to get the province to lobby the federal government for changes reflects its narrow basis of support in one province and in one sector of a provincial industry (ASLTC)."
