America
02-03-2009, 08:42 PM
OTTAWA - The Liberals and Bloc Quebecois renewed pressure on the Conservative government Monday to block the adoption of the “buy American” clause in the U.S. stimulus package before it receives full Congressional approval later this week.
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff accused the government of being blindsided by the U.S. lawmakers. The clause is part of U.S. President Barack Obama’s $819 billion stimulus package and would require only American iron and steel to be used in construction projects.
The stimulus bill passed last week through the House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress, and moves to the Senate this week. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has lodged a protest to Washington, calling it a “serious matter” in the House of Commons.
Ignatieff said thousands of Canadian jobs and billions of dollars worth of exports are at risk.
The provision, Ignatieff said, “wasn’t written overnight,” and he asked: “so how did this government get caught off guard?”
International Trade Minister Stockwell Day said the government was pushing hard in Washington to block the bill’s passage through the senate.
“We are in daily contact with a variety of individuals in the United States and we’re warning them of the danger of protectionist movements,” Day replied.
Day said he delivered that message personally to the acting U.S. trade representative, Peter F. Allgeier, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this past weekend.
Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe said the provision could affect 2,000 jobs in Quebec, as he urged Harper to personally intervene by calling Obama. Duceppe said it would be too late for Harper to do anything about the new law but the time Obama visits Ottawa on Feb. 19.
“We would like to find a solution before the president visits Canada. We don’t know if it’s possible . . . it’s our aim to find a solution before that time,” Day replied.
Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae said the government does not appear to be doing enough in Washington to sway the upcoming decision in the Senate.
Rae suggested the Mulroney Conservatives in pressed Canadian interests harder in the 1980s.
“If you compare it with the acid rain for example, we had great publicity, we had full-page ads in the United States, we had the whole thing,” Rae charged. “Frankly, we don’t seem to have very much going on, no meetings with Congress.”
Link:
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/pressed+block+American+clause/1245020/story.html
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff accused the government of being blindsided by the U.S. lawmakers. The clause is part of U.S. President Barack Obama’s $819 billion stimulus package and would require only American iron and steel to be used in construction projects.
The stimulus bill passed last week through the House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress, and moves to the Senate this week. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has lodged a protest to Washington, calling it a “serious matter” in the House of Commons.
Ignatieff said thousands of Canadian jobs and billions of dollars worth of exports are at risk.
The provision, Ignatieff said, “wasn’t written overnight,” and he asked: “so how did this government get caught off guard?”
International Trade Minister Stockwell Day said the government was pushing hard in Washington to block the bill’s passage through the senate.
“We are in daily contact with a variety of individuals in the United States and we’re warning them of the danger of protectionist movements,” Day replied.
Day said he delivered that message personally to the acting U.S. trade representative, Peter F. Allgeier, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this past weekend.
Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe said the provision could affect 2,000 jobs in Quebec, as he urged Harper to personally intervene by calling Obama. Duceppe said it would be too late for Harper to do anything about the new law but the time Obama visits Ottawa on Feb. 19.
“We would like to find a solution before the president visits Canada. We don’t know if it’s possible . . . it’s our aim to find a solution before that time,” Day replied.
Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae said the government does not appear to be doing enough in Washington to sway the upcoming decision in the Senate.
Rae suggested the Mulroney Conservatives in pressed Canadian interests harder in the 1980s.
“If you compare it with the acid rain for example, we had great publicity, we had full-page ads in the United States, we had the whole thing,” Rae charged. “Frankly, we don’t seem to have very much going on, no meetings with Congress.”
Link:
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/pressed+block+American+clause/1245020/story.html