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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-05-03, Page 66 Signal Star • Wednesday, May 3, 2017 Goderich Signal -Star VOL. 26 — ISSUE 10 PUBLISHED WEEKLY -- EST. 1860 Signal Star Publishing 120 Huckins St. Goderich ON N7A 3X8 519-524-2614 www.goderichsignalstar.com POSTMEDIA JOHN BAUMAN Group Manager, Media Sales jbauman@postmedia.com ext. 232 JANET SHRIER Office Manager jashrier@postmedia.com ext. 220 KATHLEEN SMITH Editor katsmith@postmedia.com ext. 211 SUSAN MCINTOSH Sales smcintoshnpostmedia.com ext. 228 TARA CORRAN Sales tcorran@postmedia.com ext. 230 STACEY SCOTT Inside Sales sscott@postmedia.com ext. 229 RHONDA BUTT Accounting rhbutt@postmedia.com MARY JOHNSTON Accounts Receivable majohnston@postmedia.com CURTIS ARMSTRONG Group Director of Media Sales 519 376-2250 ext. 514301 or 510 364-2001 ext. 531024 Editorial Deadline - Friday 2 p.m. Advertising booking deadline - Friday 1:30 p.m. SUBSCRIPTION RATES ADVANCE: Regular $50.00 includes GST (12 months) Seniors $50.00 includes GST (14 months) US $249.00 plus GST Foreign $416.40 plus GST Single Copy $1.50 includes GST Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES: CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 120 Huckins St, Goderich ON N7A 3X8 For any non -deliveries or delivery concems: 519-524-2614 Goderich Signal Star is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent ethical organization established to deal with editorial concerns. For more information or to file a complaint go to www.mediacouncil.ca or call toll free 1-844-877-1163. The Goderich Signal Star shall not be liable for failure to publish an ad for typographical errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of that portion of the ad in which the error occurred. The Goderich Signal -Star reserves the right to reject or edit any advertisement. The Goderich Signal -Star is a proud member of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA) and The Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA). Member of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association and the Canadian Community Newspaper Association. We acknowledge the financial support of the Govemment of Canada. ocna uanaua Tariffs on Canadian lumber also increases tensions in US -Canada relationship Kathleen Smith Goderich Signal Star Last week many national news outlets featured stories on American President Trump's declaration that the US will slap a tariff on Canadian lumber. The tariff at around 20 percent, would not only affect the Canadian lumber industry, which will most likely lead to job losses. Consequentially, it could also lead to a decline in economic prosperity, and the American people are sure to oppose such a tariff as well. According to a study last year by the National Asso- ciation of Home Builders, it was found that even a 15 percent tariff would not only increase new home prices by 4.2 percent, but would also cost approxi- mately 4, 666 full time jobs. Some Canadians might ask the question, 'Well, what does this negative effect on Americans, have to do with us?' There is a simple answer: NAFTA. The North American Free Trade Agreement, started in 1994 and incor- porating• Canada, USA and Mexico, is the world's larg- est free trade agreement; it allows for strong economic growth and prosperity. The trade agreement demonstrates how free trade can increase wealth and competition, while benefitting families, farm- ers, workers, manufactur- ers and consumers. Trump's decision to tariff the soft wood lumber com- ing out of Canada will put money in the pockets of already wealthy, white-col- lar men, while the lumber industry, countless loggers and home-building com- panies will struggle with the increase in price of lumber. According to Trump, Canada's lumber is not the only 'anti -American -agent' that is threatening the Photos by Kathleen Smith/Goderich Signal Star A 20 percent tariff has been placed on Canadian soft wood, leading to talks of renegotiating NAFTA. prosperity of the American economy. Since the unimaginable happened with the Inaugu- ration of Trump, and the US becoming a stage for reality show antics, the US - Canada relationship man- aged to remain strong, with no signs of tension. That is, until Trump decided to tweet on April 25: "Canada has made business for our dairy farmers in Wisconsin and other border states very difficult. We will not stand for this. Watch!" The leader of the "free" and the brave appears to be systematically breaking ties and increasing ten- sions with the two coun- tries that have been peace- fully operating with the US through NAFTA, economi- cally benefitting all three countries involved. Through these lumber negotiations and the Twit- ter attacks on the Canadian dairy industry, President Trump is now demanding NAFTA renegotiations, after threatening to termi- nate the agreement. According to US media reports, Trump was close to signing an executive order that would withdraw the US from NAFTA on Wednesday last week. On April 27 Trump con- tinued to inform the world on the "progress" in regards to relations with Mexico and Canada: "I received calls from the President of Mexico and the Prime Minister of Canada asking to renego- tiate NAFTA rather than terminate. I agreed sub- ject to the fact that if we do not reach a fair deal for all, we will than terminate NAFTA..." Although I am sure that these leaders can reach a new agreement for NAFTA, what bothers my rational mind is, the question of 'why' for renegotiations. NAFTA has been in oper- ation since 1994, with nor- mal fluctuations in differ- ent industries and has been a positive and pros- perous agreement amongst the three nations involved. Perhaps President Trump is acting under his mantra of "make America great again" to bring more money into the US. Perhaps Prime Minister Trudeau genuinely agrees that the terms of NAFTA need to be enhanced and renegotiated, in order to move forward. Perhaps this LADY AND THE TQAMPOLINE renegotiation of NAFTA will be fair for all nations involved and will make some significant but neces- sary changes in order for all three nations to con- tinue to grow and prosper economically. One thing that needs to be guaranteed is that all three leaders act accord- ingly in respect to those whom these renegotiations and new tariffs will affect the greatest. The lumber and dairy companies, but also the farmers, the truck drivers, the loggers and the fami- lies that will be affected by these changes. These people are the backbone of the North American economy and do not have a platform nor power to insight positive change for our communi- ties and our economy. It is the duty of the town, municipal, regional, pro- vincial and federal leaders to work for the people - to allow our countries to grow and prosper economically, while maintaining positive and peaceful relations with the other nations. The efforts of Mexico's President and the Cana- dian Prime Minister, to make changes for the improvement and prosper- ity for all three nations involved are apparent. Koat Tales When it comes time for negotiations, will President Trump be able to replace the "I" with an "Us"? In a time of uncertainty, with the term "anything is possible" not holding a positive or optimistic value anymore, I fear there is no reaching Trump. I fear there is no rene- gotiation with Trump, but rather the American government running through the NAFTA rene- gotiations like a bull in a china store. I fear Trump has created tensions with Canada where no tension was nec- essary, which could result in more being affected than just the lumber and dairy industries. I fear Trump's renegotia- tions will benefit the Amer- ican government and economy and no one else, which is the exact opposite of a properly functioning free -trade agreement. Despite all this fear and pessimism, for reasons unknown, I have faith that the leaders will act accordingly to make our nations and inter -nation relationships strong and peaceful. As a nation, we can only hope the Canadian govern- ment is as strong as the people it governs. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Signal Star welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include the writer's full name, address, daytime phone number and signature (for verifica- tion). Anonymous letters will not be published. We reserve the right to edit all editorial submissions including letters for clarification, style and length. Let- ters must be signed and be in good taste and follow the laws of libel and slander.