IT'S PITCH TIME FOR TRUE FREE TRADE

Given the chance, honest free trade could have a positive effect on both
the future of softwood lumber sales from Canada to the States and on
dealing with the enormous illicit international drug trade.

An opportunity to make a real impact on both comes at next month's trade
summit of the Americas in Quebec City. What an ideal backdrop to present
and sell the concept that free trade will only happen only if issues such
as human rights , the environment and labour standards are part of any
final agreement. These must be discussed alongside all economic trade issues.

Some people, including NDP MP Svend Robinson, can't see the benefits of the
connection. He's too busy out there going in the opposite direction,
teaching civil disobedience courses to demonstrators to take to the Quebec
summit. How short-sighted from a guy who has gained more than a share of
respect on other issues.

Svend fails to see that trade summit protesters are demonstrating against
the same negotiations that are trying to raise the quality of life of
people and workers on a global scale. The umbrella approach to countries
taking part should be stated with no misunderstanding. If you won't treat
your own citizens with citizens with fairness and justice, you will be
denied access to future free trade. It's just that simple and the April
meetings can be used to foster that attitude if Canada really wants to show
some leadership on the international stage.

Regarding the illicit drug trade, a comprehensive approach is needed to
deal with the many problems involved. Any steps aimed at detention,
enforcement and rehabilitation should be encouraged. Such countries as
Colombia need to understand that the price of admission to the full
benefits of eventual global free trade include cleaning up many
unacceptable and murderous situations at home. The illicit drug trade down
there and all that goes with it must be addressed from production to
consumption. MP Keith Martin, just back from Colombia, tells me it's the
bloodiest conflict in our whole hemisphere, with some 80 people a day being
murdered.

On the subject of softwood lumber, Canada should insist that the issue be
on the agenda. Some yappy Yank senators are demanding the new Bush
administration press us for new restrictions on softwood lumber trade after
the current quota agreement ends on March 31. U.S. lumber interests have
argued for years that Canadian imports, which make up about one third of
the lumber market south of the 49th, are subsidized by low provincial
timber-cutting fees, a.k.a. stumpage. That's not only idiotic but false.

What better place to make our case that in front of the world next month in
Quebec? We can't lose. It's an excellent issue and Canada has always been
cleared by international bodies from any wrongdoing. Most members of the
House of Commons agree, with the exception of the protectionist NDP. The
Americans would have you believe low stumpage fees paid to the Crown are in
effect a subsidy. If the truth be told, the huge difference in our currency
makes our wood more attractive.

Consumer groups in the States say they need our softwood and any attempt to
restrict the flow would hurt Americans with high prices. What's more, the
U.S. cannot meet its demand and relies on Canadian to meet those targets.
Because of our low dollar, more capital investment has been made in mill
infrastructure up here, giving us the technological edge over the U.S. We
are more efficient and that's hard for Uncle Sam to swallow but it's a fact
and probably accounts for a lot of the hollering from down south.

Look, we are either going to have free trade or not, and it's time for
Canada to stand up and make the Americans understand that we can't be going
around making exceptions to trade rules at every turn.