Five billion dollars is a lot of money, I was being glib and I offer you apology. But we're a much smaller country and the unexpected loss of five billion dollars hits us hard. America is 10x our size, and softwood lumber is one of our biggest imports, besides oil and and metal.
but...
a) I am only in favour of multiculturalism so long as it helps promote Western values, and mostly adopts Western values. Sorry. Just the way I feel. ;) I'm down with shish kebab, but I wouldn't kill support a man killing his sister because she slept with her boyfriend. I can dig the Doors, but I do not think that doing drugs is a victimless crime or morally acceptable.
b) Mulroney and the Canadian businesses were encouraged by American businesses and the Reagan and Bush Sr. administrations to join NAFTA. To be fair, they raised some good points, but I believe the majority of Canadians were actually opposed to it. Including yours truly (though he was young at the time).
Many Canadians really do feel that way and it does not offend me.
You are still young if you believe what these politicians say and not what they do.
If I recall, Mr. Chretien was elected under the promise that he would get rid of NAFTA.
But he didn't, and that is because Canada has done very, very well in its trade with the USA.
Even in the softwood industry.