Within reach

The CP notes that softwood lumber isn't the only issue where Canada has strong motivation to lobby the U.S. at the moment - nor the issue where Canada's efforts could make the most difference:

An upcoming U.S. congressional vote on oil drilling in Alaska's national wildlife refuge is too close to call and strong opposition from Canada could make the difference, say environmentalists who want to protect the area.

"We're counting noses in the Congress," Monte Hummel of World Wildlife Fund Canada, told a news conference Thursday. "We figure we're within somewhere between two to five votes in the Senate. It's that close.

"We've been told by folks in Washington that having Canada come out and make a strong statement could just make the difference."...

The environmentalists applauded Prime Minister Paul Martin's recent statements opposing drilling, but they'd like to see a formal statement from the government.

Stephane Dion is apparently on the case to the extent of privately lobbying senators, but not in making a formal public stand. If there's anything to the Wildlife Fund's position, then Dion needs to pull out all the stops to make sure that momentary oil panic (which itself isn't solved to any meaningful extent by potential drilling) won't override basic environmental protection.