Burnaby – NDP Leader Jack Layton and NDP Trade Critic Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster) today called on Prime Minister Paul Martin to reconvene Parliament immediately to deal with continuing American violation of NAFTA, and the failure of the Liberal government to protect Canada’s interests. Layton added that it’s important Canada rise above provincial tensions and respond to trade tensions in the national interest.

“Paul Martin took more than two years to decide on missile defence, and despite years of persistent NAFTA violations by the United States on softwood, there is still no response,” said Layton. “Canada can’t afford to wait any longer for Mr. Martin to defend our interests, and Parliament should resume sitting to send a clear message to the Bush Administration that Canada is serious about standing up for itself.”

Layton reiterated his call for Canada to indicate it will link oil exports to the United States to softwood in order to get the attention of President Bush.

“Canada needs to indicate that it is prepared to place export duties on oil exports to the United States to underline the seriousness of repeated American violations of our trading agreements,” he said. “Threatening import duties on products such as orange juice only makes Canadians pay twice, with lost jobs and higher prices. Indicating we are prepared to link oil with wood impacts Americans, and is an issue close to the heart of the Bush Administration.

“We export more oil to the United States than Saudi Arabia, and yet persistently fail to gain respect for ourselves in Washington,” said Julian. “Parliament needs to resume so Mr. Martin can explain why Saudi Arabia is respected in Washington, yet Canada is not, despite providing more oil to a country that chooses to increase its dependence upon it.”

Layton said Martin’s failure to rise above provincial interests and think of the national interest is troubling.

“Mr. Martin is letting our national response be unduly influenced by Premier Klein and the oil industry, neither of which should fear the current administration using less of their product,” Layton said. “Canada deserves a national response to underline our serious commitment to protecting Canadian jobs and business. Whether it is softwood, steel, beef or auto, Canadians expect their federal government to defend regional economies with a national approach.