Clark admits giving up on negotiating with Obama and gambling on Trump instead

This morning, Christy Clark acknowledged that she gave up on getting a softwood agreement with President Obama and decided to try her luck with President Trump instead. Clark said she rejected a proposed deal because it wasn’t good enough, but did not deny giving up on getting a better deal with the Obama administration.

“Instead of working for a better deal with President Obama, Christy Clark gave up and decided to gamble on Trump,” said BC NDP Leader John Horgan. “Getting a good deal is always going to be hard, but now we know she didn’t even put the work in and BC workers are paying the price.”

Before Trump slapped job-killing tariffs on BC softwood this week, Clark consistently praised Trump as “a builder” and predicted he would be a good “dance partner” for BC’s softwood industry. (Feb 1, Feb 16, Apr 8, April 25)

“Christy Clark has been clear for a long time that she thought Trump’s election would be great news for BC softwood, and now she seems surprised that Trump is slapping job-killing duties on BC wood products,” said Horgan. “Christy Clark’s failure to get a deal is putting thousands of jobs at risk.”

Horgan will visit Washington within 30 days of getting elected to fight for a good deal for BC.

There are a couple remaining questions for Christy Clark:

  • Does she stand by her decision to negotiate with Trump instead of Obama?
  • Today she admitted that visiting Washington would help BC get a deal, promising to get around to it after the election. Why didn’t she do it in the two years that have passed since the deal expired?