OTTAWA - The Council of Canadians today posted a counter on its website to draw attention to the federal government’s continuing inaction on the softwood lumber dispute.

The counter is part of a larger campaign to get Canadians involved in holding the government accountable. Across Canada, citizens have already embarked on the Council of Canadians’ letter-writing campaign urging Trade Minister Peterson to quit talking and take action.

“The American government’s refusal to comply with the NAFTA ruling on softwood lumber is proof that Canada urgently needs a change in strategy,” says Maude Barlow, national chairperson for the Council of Canadians. “So far the Canadian government has responded with nothing more than idle threats.”

Yesterday, 57 days after the softwood lumber ruling, Prime Minister Martin apologized for his “departure from the safe language of diplomacy,” before declaring to an American business audience that the U.S. position was “nonsense.”

“Canadians are waiting for the Martin government to defend our interests through concrete actions,” says Jean-Yves Lefort, Trade Campaigner for the Council of Canadians. “If the Liberals are out of ideas on how to solve this problem, our campaign provides solutions that would work for Canadians.”

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For more information, please contact:
Dylan Penner, Media Officer, Council of Canadians: (613) 233-4487, ext. 249; 1-800-387-7177, ext. 249; ; www.canadians.org.