B.C. Government Supports Softwood Lumber Agreement

Aug. 16, 2006

VANCOUVER – Premier Gordon Campbell pledged the government of British Columbia’s support for the softwood lumber agreement today.

“We have received sufficient assurances that the Province’s concerns with the softwood lumber agreement have been addressed,” said Campbell. “While not perfect, the agreement is a reasonable deal for British Columbia and will provide greater stability and certainty.”

Specifically, the parties have agreed to the following:

• Acceptance of B.C.’s market-based pricing system, confirming our independent ability to establish forest policy;
• A six-month termination clause that may only be initiated after the agreement has been in force for 18 months, providing greater certainty and stability for B.C.’s forestry industry and economy;
• A one-year standstill clause after the agreement is terminated by the U.S. or concluded, effectively implementing true free trade without U.S. petitions or actions, so that future agreements or litigation are based on accurate data;
• Lumber produced from timber on privately owned lands will be reviewed by a joint softwood working group or by a binational panel established by the agreement. It has been agreed that the review will be conducted concurrently with B.C.’s log export review announced earlier this summer; and
• The running rules governing the day-to-day operations of the agreement will be reviewed by the binational panel, ensuring the agreement functions in a commercially viable manner.

“We have worked productively with the federal government, B.C.’s forest industry and other provincial governments to resolve outstanding concerns,” said Forests and Range Minister Rich Coleman. “With this work complete, we believe our government can support the agreement.”

“It’s time for the costly litigation and instability experienced over the last decade to end and for a new chapter in British Columbia’s ongoing forestry revitalization to begin,” concluded Campbell.