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<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">December 14, 2006 <i>(6:45 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 157</span><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"></span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">SOFTWOOD LUMBER LEGISLATION RECEIVES ROYAL ASSENT</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">The Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade, and the Honourable
Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry, today announced that Bill C-24, the <i>Softwood
Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006</i>, received Royal Assent in Parliament.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">“This important event is the last step in implementing the Softwood Lumber Agreement
between Canada and the United States and marks a tremendous achievement for
Canada’s New Government,” declared Minister Emerson. “This Agreement enables
softwood lumber companies to grow their businesses, contributing to Canada</span><span style="font-family: 'WP TypographicSymbols', sans-serif">=</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">s
economy and sustaining jobs in hundreds of lumber-dependent communities across
Canada.</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">”</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">On October 12, the Softwood Lumber Agreement came into force. Three weeks later,
Canadian producers and sawmills began to receive refunds of duties through the Export
Development Canada refund mechanism. To date, more than 98.9 percent of refunds
have been processed.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">“The Agreement has meant a much-needed infusion of capital—</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">more than
$5 billion—</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">for an industry facing weak markets,</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">” said Minister Bernier. “The refunds
provided under the Agreement can be used by our lumber producers to reinvest in their
enterprises, improve efficiency and weather the downturn in lumber prices.”</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">For the next seven to nine years, the Softwood Lumber Agreement will provide
Canadian producers with a more stable, predictable trade environment, by preventing
any further litigation. Victories in a number of trade courts—</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">including under NAFTA and
the World Trade Organization</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">—</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">were helpful in setting the stage for a negotiated
settlement. </span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">- 30 -</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Jennifer Chiu<br>
Press Secretary<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and
the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics<br>
613-992-7332<br>
</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Trade Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada<br>
613-996-2000</span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"></span></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221062249/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">Isabelle Fontaine<br>
Office of the Minister of Industry<br>
613-995-9001<span style="font-size: 14pt"></span></span></span></p>
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