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Canada to lobby over "Buy American" Protectionist Bill

by Barry Artiste | January 30, 2009 at 05:39 am

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Barry Artiste Op/Ed

Though one can certainly understand the US Position of "Buy American" in these troubling times. US Taxpayers, like Canadian Taxpayers want to know that if their money is going to Bailout Industries inside both our countries, that tax money better benefit Taxpayers jobs and not go our Countries Manufacturing Industries overseas to other countries to supplement other countries citizens jobs.

It is not going to be easy to dismantle the NAFTA Free Trade agreement, but necessary in protecting US and Canadian Jobs, perhaps a deal can be reached with US/Canada Nafta can still be salvaged, benefitting both our countries while saving jobs in both countries. Many are upset at Obamas Administration over this, though it is our of Obamas hands for the most part, going to a senate vote. But on the other hand Canada bailing out the forestry and other industries may have the US pointing an accusing finger at us over the softwood lumber fiasco, when it will be seen that a Canadian Forestry Bailout is somehow a subsidy to the forest industry, which is a clear contrevention of the NAFTA Act.

Harper to lobby U.S. over protectionist bill

Updated Thu. Jan. 29 2009 9:54 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Prime Minister Stephen Harper plans to lobby the U.S. over protectionist legislation which calls for a "Buy America" policy as the country prepares for a series of sweeping infrastructure projects.

The U.S. bill, which Congress appended Wednesday onto President Barack Obama's US$819 billion stimulus plan, has sparked fears that Canada's steel exports could be shut out of the U.S. recovery plan.