Vancouver Information and Newspaper

Archive for September, 2009

OTTAWA – Trade Minister Stockwell Day spoke with President Barack Obama’s top trade negotiator Wednesday in an effort to resolve the dispute over the “Buy American” provisions of the U.S. stimulus bill.

But both sides said no deal has been reached.

“What was given to him is our plan, our solution on the way out of this problem of Canadian companies being shut out of some of the bidding process in the United States on Buy American provisions,” Day told reporters.

“He has named officials on his side, I’ve named negotiators on our side and we’re, we’re pushing this proposal ahead. “

“The prime minister has talked to the president about it. The prime minister’s also talked with the Congressional House Leaders and the work is going on right now.”

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said the administration is reviewing a proposal submitted by the Canadian government to resolve the dispute, but the two officials have yet to resolve the issue.

“They have presented us what they think might be a resolution that would allow them to more fully engage in this market. We’re working very collaboratively,” Kirk told reporters after delivering a speech before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington.

But “we don’t have it nailed down yet,” he said.

A report by a Canadian news television station Tuesday had said a deal was imminent.

The “Buy American” provisions that were included in the US$787-billion economic stimulus bill that Congress passed in February favour U.S.-made steel and other manufactured goods in government-funded building projects.

The provision has proven to be a major irritant in trade relations between the United States and Canada, its largest trading partner. Prime Minister Stephen Harper raised the issue with Obama during a visit to Washington last week.

In August, the Ottawa put forward a proposal that would offer U.S. companies expanded access to Canadian government procurement contracts in return for a waiver of the “Buy American” provisions in the U.S. stimulus program.

-With files from The Associated Press

OTTAWA – Trade Minister Stockwell Day spoke with President Barack Obama’s top trade negotiator Wednesday in an effort to resolve the dispute over the “Buy American” provisions of the U.S. stimulus bill.

But both sides said no deal has been reached.

“What was given to him is our plan, our solution on the way out of this problem of Canadian companies being shut out of some of the bidding process in the United States on Buy American provisions,” Day told reporters.

“He has named officials on his side, I’ve named negotiators on our side and we’re, we’re pushing this proposal ahead. “

“The prime minister has talked to the president about it. The prime minister’s also talked with the Congressional House Leaders and the work is going on right now.”

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said the administration is reviewing a proposal submitted by the Canadian government to resolve the dispute, but the two officials have yet to resolve the issue.

“They have presented us what they think might be a resolution that would allow them to more fully engage in this market. We’re working very collaboratively,” Kirk told reporters after delivering a speech before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington.

But “we don’t have it nailed down yet,” he said.

A report by a Canadian news television station Tuesday had said a deal was imminent.

The “Buy American” provisions that were included in the US$787-billion economic stimulus bill that Congress passed in February favour U.S.-made steel and other manufactured goods in government-funded building projects.

The provision has proven to be a major irritant in trade relations between the United States and Canada, its largest trading partner. Prime Minister Stephen Harper raised the issue with Obama during a visit to Washington last week.

In August, the Ottawa put forward a proposal that would offer U.S. companies expanded access to Canadian government procurement contracts in return for a waiver of the “Buy American” provisions in the U.S. stimulus program.

-With files from The Associated Press

OTTAWA – Trade Minister Stockwell Day spoke with President Barack Obama’s top trade negotiator Wednesday in an effort to resolve the dispute over the “Buy American” provisions of the U.S. stimulus bill.

But both sides said no deal has been reached.

“What was given to him is our plan, our solution on the way out of this problem of Canadian companies being shut out of some of the bidding process in the United States on Buy American provisions,” Day told reporters.

“He has named officials on his side, I’ve named negotiators on our side and we’re, we’re pushing this proposal ahead. “

“The prime minister has talked to the president about it. The prime minister’s also talked with the Congressional House Leaders and the work is going on right now.”

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said the administration is reviewing a proposal submitted by the Canadian government to resolve the dispute, but the two officials have yet to resolve the issue.

“They have presented us what they think might be a resolution that would allow them to more fully engage in this market. We’re working very collaboratively,” Kirk told reporters after delivering a speech before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington.

But “we don’t have it nailed down yet,” he said.

A report by a Canadian news television station Tuesday had said a deal was imminent.

The “Buy American” provisions that were included in the US$787-billion economic stimulus bill that Congress passed in February favour U.S.-made steel and other manufactured goods in government-funded building projects.

The provision has proven to be a major irritant in trade relations between the United States and Canada, its largest trading partner. Prime Minister Stephen Harper raised the issue with Obama during a visit to Washington last week.

In August, the Ottawa put forward a proposal that would offer U.S. companies expanded access to Canadian government procurement contracts in return for a waiver of the “Buy American” provisions in the U.S. stimulus program.

-With files from The Associated Press

FREDERICTON – An Air Canada Jazz passenger jet was cleared for landing in Fredericton on Wednesday when the crew spotted a training aircraft in the area and aborted their approach.

Manon Stuart, a spokeswoman for the airline, said the manoeuvre was not considered an emergency procedure.

“The crew proactively discontinued the landing,” she said from Halifax, noting that the aircraft was scheduled to land at around 3:45 p.m. AT.

“The crew had the training aircraft in sight at all times … There really was no issue … This was not an emergency procedure.”

Stuart said the twin-engine, Bombardier CRJ jet, on its way to Fredericton from Toronto, landed safely after circling the airport.

She said she didn’t know how close the two aircraft were when Flight 8956 pulled out of its descent.

It also remains unclear how far the regional jet was from the runway or how many passengers were aboard.

Stuart had no details about the training aircraft.

FREDERICTON – An Air Canada Jazz passenger jet was cleared for landing in Fredericton on Wednesday when the crew spotted a training aircraft in the area and aborted their approach.

Manon Stuart, a spokeswoman for the airline, said the manoeuvre was not considered an emergency procedure.

“The crew proactively discontinued the landing,” she said from Halifax, noting that the aircraft was scheduled to land at around 3:45 p.m. AT.

“The crew had the training aircraft in sight at all times … There really was no issue … This was not an emergency procedure.”

Stuart said the twin-engine, Bombardier CRJ jet, on its way to Fredericton from Toronto, landed safely after circling the airport.

She said she didn’t know how close the two aircraft were when Flight 8956 pulled out of its descent.

It also remains unclear how far the regional jet was from the runway or how many passengers were aboard.

Stuart had no details about the training aircraft.

FREDERICTON – An Air Canada Jazz passenger jet was cleared for landing in Fredericton on Wednesday when the crew spotted a training aircraft in the area and aborted their approach.

Manon Stuart, a spokeswoman for the airline, said the manoeuvre was not considered an emergency procedure.

“The crew proactively discontinued the landing,” she said from Halifax, noting that the aircraft was scheduled to land at around 3:45 p.m. AT.

“The crew had the training aircraft in sight at all times … There really was no issue … This was not an emergency procedure.”

Stuart said the twin-engine, Bombardier CRJ jet, on its way to Fredericton from Toronto, landed safely after circling the airport.

She said she didn’t know how close the two aircraft were when Flight 8956 pulled out of its descent.

It also remains unclear how far the regional jet was from the runway or how many passengers were aboard.

Stuart had no details about the training aircraft.