Effective pressure

It hasn't taken long for the meetings of the Standing Committee on International Trade to bear fruit, as David Emerson has apparently stated that the Cons won't force a vote on their softwood lumber capitulation if the industry and the provinces stay relatively united against it:

Trade Minister David Emerson says the Canada-U.S. softwood deal might not make it to a vote in the Commons.

Emerson says that if the provinces and lumber businesses don't agree with the deal, it won't go to MPs for a vote...

The deal to end the longstanding trade dispute on softwood lumber has faced widespread criticism from industry and provincial governments.

While the article cites Emerson as "defending" the agreement, it's clear from his sudden willingness to listen to those most affected by the treaty that the Cons are (rightly) looking for a way out at this point. We can only hope that the supposed conversion isn't simply a matter of political convenience to be followed by more attempts to strong-arm the parties involved into accepting the deal...but there should be no doubt now that the Cons lack the leverage to force anybody to their point of view.

Update: Not surprisingly, Peter Julian is leading the way in putting the screws to Emerson:

“What we saw today was a display by the Minister of his government’s utter helplessness in the face of US interests," said Julian. "Canada was in the final stages of decisive litigation with the US – cases we were going to win – and this government suspended that litigation for quick political gain and a photo-op with George Bush.

“This deal is bad for the Canadian industry who want the return of the full $5.3 billion in illegal tariffs that have been taken by the US, it’s bad for those lumber communities that have collapsed without help or loan guarantees from this federal government, and it’s bad for Canadian lumber and mill workers for whom it will mean the end to any sort of economic security or growth for their communities because as Minister Emerson himself admits, the Americans can bail on this deal at any time.”