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<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">October 6, 2006 <i>(6:15 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 117</span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">SOFTWOOD LUMBER AGREEMENT READY FOR IMPLEMENTATION</span></span></p>
<br>
<p>The Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of International Trade, today issued the
following statement on the Softwood Lumber Agreement:</p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p>“I am pleased today to announce that Canada and the United States are ready to
implement the Softwood Lumber Agreement on October 12, 2006.</p>
<br>
<p>“Through flexibility, understanding and cooperation, both countries have successfully
met all the requirements necessary to implement the Softwood Lumber Agreement next
week, and have found a satisfactory resolution to the outstanding legal and
administrative issues.</p>
<br>
<p>“Our government made a commitment to ensure the swift return of more than
C$5 billion to Canadian softwood producers, and I am pleased to confirm that the
Export Development Canada duty refund mechanism is in place and moving forward.
Providing at least seven to nine years of stability, this Agreement ends years of costly
litigation and brings new economic certainty to those companies, communities and
workers across Canada whose livelihoods depend on the softwood lumber industry.</p>
<br>
<p>“It is important as well to recognize this Agreement’s broader economic dimension. By
establishing a new era of respect and cooperation with our most important trading
partner, Canada’s New Government has enhanced our bilateral relationship, proving
again that through focus and hard work we're achieving real results for Canadians.”</p>
<br>
<p>More information is available at
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221012751/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/eicb/softwood/SLA-main-en.asp"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/eicb/softwood/SLA-main-en.asp</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000">.</span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></p>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Robert Klager<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and
the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics<br>
613-996-8605</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Trade Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada<br>
613-996-2000<br>
</span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221012751/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000"></span></p>
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