Softwood deal survives vote in House of Commons

[tuvor]

(Just for the record...)

The controversial softwood lumber deal easily passed its first parliamentary vote on Tuesday, therefore ensuring the survival of the minority Conservative government.

The House of Commons voted 172-116 in favour of a ways and means motion -- the first step in the formal approval process.

If it had failed, the country would have faced an election, as Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper had made it a matter of confidence, but its passage had been expected.

But while the NDP and most Liberals voted against the deal, the separatist Bloc Quebecois threw it support behind the government, allowing the deal smooth passage.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060919/softwood_vote_060919/20060919?hub=CTVNewsAt11

[daleo]

1. Conservatives plus Separatists

A great combination for giving away the country to the Americans.

[CHIMO]

4. Or

Creating a difference for Quebeckers. Then there is a reason to have a nation.

[LeftistGorilla]

2. How sad....

[George1984]

3. Has anyone ever thought about this...

Why do we send raw materials to the U.S anyways? We should help keep our own mills alive to finish products in Canada, and become self sufficient. Raw lumber shouldn't go to them. Finished lumber can, and if they don't want it, there are countries like China and India starving for lumber. We always want to sell to the U.S, and they act like we absolutely have no other choice, but we do. The softwood lumber issue shouldn't be an issue at all.

Anyone ever thought about why the borders opened up for beef? We were two to three years away from being able to process our own beef and ship finished product. We would have been 100% self sufficient. Their meat packing plant owners realized this and pressured the gov't to open the border and wholla, it happened. It would be the same with lumber.