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Topic: McQuaig - We should speak truth to power more often
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radiorahim
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 2777
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posted 19 December 2005 08:37 PM
quote: Canadians, all of us, should defend Canada with all the noise that Americans defend the US. Canadian politicians should stand up for Canada, even if it means iritating our southern neighbours. Also, mouthing the words isn't enough; they need to actually do it, which may mean strong actions such as cancelling NAFTA or stopping the export of raw logs.
If governments in impoverished Latin America can stand up to the U.S. Why can't we? A president who calls himself "Washington's worst nightmare" just got elected in Bolivia.
From: a Micro$oft-free computer | Registered: Jun 2002
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TacitBlue
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 11441
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posted 23 December 2005 10:02 PM
Hello Cougyr, quote: Also, mouthing the words isn't enough; they need to actually do it, which may mean strong actions such as cancelling NAFTA or stopping the export of raw logs.
Restricting the export of softwood lumber, or any natural resource, would result in the loss of more employment in the lumber industry, which is stagnate in northern Ontario and Quebec. The cancellation of NAFTA would make life for those unemployed persons more difficult, as prices for American products would be more expensive due to increased tarrifs. The federal government is doing well by exploring foreign markets for our crude oil, which sends the message that the government is willing to sell to others countries besides the United States. [ 23 December 2005: Message edited by: TacitBlue ]
From: Earth | Registered: Dec 2005
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Fidel
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5594
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posted 24 December 2005 12:31 AM
quote: Originally posted by TacitBlue: Restricting the export of softwood lumber, or any natural resource, would result in the loss of more employment in the lumber industry, which is stagnate in northern Ontario and Quebec.
And so if the U.S. really is promoting globalism and free markets, then we might come to the conclusion that Canada should be free to sell its natural resources to the highest bidder. American's themselves have said that Canada demands too low a stumpage fees from foreign logging giants. In fact, the McGuinty Liberal government in Ontario has done nothing to alleviate rising electric power costs in Ontario which has already cost logging and pulp & paper jobs in Northern Ontario. Power distribution companies are charging 8 cents per kilowatt hour and costs 2 cents per kWh to produce. quote:
The cancellation of NAFTA would make life for those unemployed persons more difficult, as prices for American products would be more expensive due to increased tarrifs.
So we'll make our own toilet paper. We should decide to keep our old growth forests in BC, and at least use it for fine quality printer paper or greeting cards instead of arse whipe for those super-sized Yankee arses. C'mon! Anyone who knows anything about NAFTA knows that full-time job creation in Canada dropped markedly in the 13.25 years after NAFTA was signed in direct comparison to the same time period before. Pull the other one, it's got bells on.
From: Viva La Revolución | Registered: Apr 2004
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Jerry West
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1545
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posted 24 December 2005 05:57 PM
quote:
TacitBlueRestricting the export of softwood lumber, or any natural resource, would result in the loss of more employment in the lumber industry,
Actually, restricting the export of raw logs might result in more employment in the lumber industry if we have markets for the wood milled from the previously exported logs. Also, taking your argument further, we have to ask ourselves if we want to be blackmailed into giving up control over our resources and ultimately our sovereignity. In the long run we may be better off if instead of concentrating on trade we concentrate our efforts on achieving self sufficiency. One thing about being self sufficient is that we won't have to worry about our major trading partner (whose economic situation is in serious danger) going broke and taking us down with them.
From: Gold River, BC | Registered: Oct 2001
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