Solution sought in softwood lumber dispute

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew met separately Tuesday with U.S. envoy Marc Racicot, a former governor of Montana, to force a solution to the trade dispute over softwood lumber. Following the expiration in March of a five-year deal, the U.S. has hiked duties on Canadian lumber exports to 32 percent. British Columbia Forest Minister Mike DeJong called the trade sanctions ``punitive and unseemly when you consider that we are supposed to be allies.'' An estimated 30,000 workers in the industry face unemployment by Christmas. While Ottawa suggested Tuesday that U.S. failure to accept free trade in softwood lumber could have consequences for oil and gas exports to the U.S. Prime Minister Chrétien told reporters, ``I'm optimistic we'll find a solution. But you have to be patient.''

Richard Wright surprise Giller winner

Author Richard B. Wright netted the 2001 Giller prize, along with $25,000, Tuesday night for his novel Clara Callan. ``Since I didn't expect to win, I didn't prepare any response to this,'' Wright told the assembled literati. ``If you don't mind, I'll just stand here for a few minutes and hyperventilate.'' He then thanked his wife, Phyllis Wright, and editor, Phyllis Bruce. Clara Callan tells the story of two sisters during the Depression through letters and diary entries. Canada's most moneyed literary prize was established by Jack Rabinovitch as a memorial to his wife, Doris Giller, and has been awarded to such luminaries as Margaret Atwood and Mordecai Richler. Mr. Rabinovitch paid tribute during the evening to the late Mordecai Richler, his friend and confidant, telling a story about the year Mr. Richler won the Giller. ``Jack, it's in Canadian dollars,'' Mr. Richler is supposed to have said in shock after receiving the prize. The Giller Prize also includes a bronze statue, sculpted by Yehouda Chaki.

Liberal MP pleads guilty to hit-and-run

Liberal MP Jean-Guy Carignan, of the Quebec-East riding, plead guilty Tuesday to a hit-and-run charge in relation to an accident last fall. He hit the 20-year-old woman on the way to having his hair dyed, leaving her with with minor injuries . Mr. Carignan will be sentenced on Dec. 14 and faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.

U of A professor wins $1-million science award

David Schiller, an ecologist at the University of Alberta, has won the Gerhard Herzberg Canada Gold Medal, essentially naming him the top scientist in Canada. A world-renowned limnologist or (lake researcher), Schindler's work has focused attention on the harmful effects of phosphorous-based detergents and acid rain. Schindler has no plans to retire and will use the money toward his research.