Re: “Canada must secure new softwood markets,” comment, May 4.
Few would disagree with Naomi Christensen on the need to diversify softwood markets, but I wonder if a little more analysis is needed as to what is happening at present.
Perhaps there has been some honesty from the B.C. industry about its exports to China, but I have not seen it. One wonders what percentage of our exports have been for frame-house construction, at roughly comparable prices to exports to the U.S., and how much has been cheap lumber for scaffolding and concrete forming.
There are also the pesky issues of fire codes in China, needing, I think, to be addressed city by city, and various termites throughout tropical southeast Asia that enjoy a softwood lunch.
All issues that can be addressed, but it will take more investment than we have seen recently from both industry and Victoria.
Robert Gunn
Port Alberni
