News Release             Communiqué

For Immediate Release
 April 3, 2001

Softwood Lumber Letter to the New York Times by former US President Jimmy Carter draws response from Member of Parliament.

 The attached letter was sent yesterday to the New York Times in response to former US President Jimmy Carter's article in the March 24th edition of the New York Times.

"As a former forest industry executive and someone who has been involved directly and indirectly in the softwood lumber wars between Canada and the USA during the last 20 years, I cannot stand idly by and not respond to the rhetoric coming from south of the border," Mr. Roy Cullen, MP from Etobicoke North said.

Mr. Cullen hopes to elevate the debate on this highly emotional topic to a discussion of the real issues involved.

"We are in for a real battle," he said, "affecting a very large industry and a significant number of jobs in Canada." "We must fight these charges by the Americans", he added.

For more information please contact Ryan Hordy, Executive Assistant, office of Roy Cullen M.P. (613) 995-4702