Instead of relying on a negotiated agreement in the softwood lumber dispute, an associate of the C.D. Howe Institute, a public policy think tank, suggests that a better, more permanent solution would be to address U.S. grievances by reforming B.C.’s stumpage system.
In a brief to federal and provincial ministers of forestry and trade, Benjamin Dachis, associate director of research at the C.D. Howe Institute recommends moving from a flat stumpage fee to an auction system and a tax on profits.
According to a story by Business in Vancouver, Dachis said the reforms he is proposing not only would address the principal grievance Americans have against the Canadian industry, but also would raise more revenue for the government.
Read the full story here.