Provinces reject softwood proposal By STEVEN CHASE AND PETER KENNEDY
The provinces told Mr. Peterson that he must seek changes from Washington -- a tall order given that U.S. timber producers have already characterized the early December agreement hammered out by both sides as a bottom-line proposal.
But officials in Ottawa, which is loath to quit talks after so much progress in recent months, refused to declare the deal dead, saying they have no intention of rejecting it but acknowledging that 'provinces and industry have voiced concerns.'