77% want energy cut back unless U.S. capitulates
poll: Majority believe U.S. should repay $5B for softwood
OTTAWA - Three of every four Canadians believe Canada should restrict oil and gas exports to the United States if the U.S. does not repay the $5-billion in softwood lumber tariffs that were ruled a violation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, a new poll suggests.
On the eve of a key visit to Canada by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the poll also found nearly two-thirds of Canadians see her visit as a "big public relations exercise" and think President George W. Bush and Ms. Rice do not really care about resolving trade disputes between the two countries.
An overwhelming majority of the 1,001 adults surveyed -- 81% -- disagreed with a statement that the United States is Canada's best friend, a secure market for Canadian goods, and that Canada should let the United States keep the billions of dollars in softwood tariffs and move on to other issues.
Seventy-one per cent of respondents agreed with the statement: "I value and respect the United States and its citizens -- it's just that I disagree fundamentally with their government."
http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=117247ca-0605-4215-bb84-6c2a9306341f