View source for David Emerson

{{Short description|Canadian businessman and politician}}
{{for|the Australian cricketer|David Emerson (cricketer)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox officeholder 
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| honorific-suffix = [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada|PC]] [[Order of British Columbia|OBC]] [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]]
| image            =

| office1           = [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
| primeminister1    = [[Stephen Harper]]
| term_start1       = May 26, 2008
| term_end1         = October 20, 2008
| predecessor1      = [[Maxime Bernier]]
| successor1        = [[Lawrence Cannon]]

| office2           = [[Minister of International Trade Diversification|Minister of International Trade]]
| primeminister2    = [[Stephen Harper]]
| term_start2       = February 6, 2006
| term_end2         = June 24, 2008
| predecessor2      = [[Jim Peterson]]
| successor2        = [[Michael Fortier]]

| office3           = Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the [[2010 Winter Olympics|Vancouver-Whistler Olympics]]
| primeminister3    = [[Stephen Harper]]
| term_start3       = February 6, 2006
| term_end3         = June 25, 2008
| predecessor3      = ''Office Established''
| successor3        = ''Office Abolished''

| office4           = [[Minister of Industry (Canada)|Minister of Industry]]
| primeminister4    = [[Paul Martin]]
| term_start4       = July 20, 2004
| term_end4         = February 6, 2006
| predecessor4      = [[Lucienne Robillard]]
| successor4        = [[Maxime Bernier]]

| riding5          = [[Vancouver Kingsway]]
| parliament5      = Canadian
| term_start5      = June 28, 2004
| term_end5        = October 14, 2008
| predecessor5     = [[Sophia Leung]]
| successor5       = [[Don Davies]]
| birth_name       = David Lee Emerson
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1945|09|17}}
| birth_place      = [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], Canada
| death_date       = 
| death_place      =
| profession       = [[Economist]]
| occupation       = Financial executive, politician
| party            = [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]]
| portfolio        = Minister of Foreign Affairs
| otherparty       = [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] (2004-2006)
| spouse           = Theresa Yuek-Si Tang
| residence        = Vancouver, [[British Columbia]]
| footnotes        =
}}

'''David Lee Emerson''', {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|OBC}} (born September 17, 1945) is a Canadian economist, financial executive, and politician. He was formerly the [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|Member of Parliament]] for the [[electoral district (Canada)|riding]] of [[Vancouver Kingsway]]. He was first elected as a [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] and served as [[Minister of Industry (Canada)|Minister of Industry]] under [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Paul Martin]]. After controversially crossing the floor to join [[Stephen Harper]]'s [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservatives]], he served as [[Minister of International Trade (Canada)|Minister of International Trade]] and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics, followed by [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]].

== Early life and business career ==
Emerson was born in [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]]. He attended the [[University of Alberta]] and obtained his Bachelor of Economics degree in 1968 and his Master of Economics degree in 1970.<ref name="TO"/> He then went on to [[Queen's University, Canada|Queen's University]] where he received his [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D]] in [[economics]].<ref name="TO"/>

In 1975, after working as a researcher for the Economic Council of Canada, Emerson moved to [[British Columbia]] and joined the public service. In 1984, he became deputy minister of finance.<ref name="TO"/>

In 1986, Emerson was appointed president and chief executive officer of the [[Western & Pacific Bank of Canada]].<ref name="TO"/> He transformed it into the [[Canadian Western Bank|Western Bank of Canada]] — the only regional bank to survive and prosper. Four years later, he returned as deputy minister of finance<ref name="TO"/> and was quickly promoted to deputy minister to the premier and president of the British Columbia Trade Development Corporation.<ref name="TO"/>

From 1992 to 1997, Emerson was president and chief executive officer of the newly created [[Vancouver International Airport#Vancouver International Airport Authority|Vancouver International Airport Authority]].

In 1998, Emerson was appointed president and chief executive officer of [[Canfor Corporation]], a leading integrated [[forest]] products company and Canada's largest producer of [[softwood lumber]]. With 8,100 workers and annual revenues of $3.2 billion servicing 10% of the U.S. market, Canfor operates [[Wood pulp|pulp]] and [[paper mill]]s as well as 19 [[sawmill]]s across British Columbia, two in [[Alberta]] and one in [[Quebec]]. Despite US duties and a higher [[Canadian dollar]], Emerson managed to increase profits and raise share prices through a major [[Takeover|acquisition]] deal and efficiency upgrades, which increased capacity by 30% while reducing production costs by 24%.

In 2008, Emerson joined private equity firm CAI Capital Management as a senior advisor.

Emerson's directorships included: [[Terasen Inc]]; [[Royal & SunAlliance|Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada]]; vice-chairman of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives; Chair, [[BC Ferries|British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.]]; and chairman and director of Genus Resource Management Technologies Inc.

== Election history ==
Bypassing the nomination process, [[Paul Martin]] appointed David Emerson as the Liberal candidate in [[Vancouver Kingsway]] for the [[2004 Canadian federal election|2004 election]]. In the general election, he narrowly defeated [[Ian Waddell]] of the [[New Democratic Party (Canada)|New Democratic Party]] (NDP) by 1,351 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.ca/scripts/OVR2004/default.html |title=Ovr / Ros |publisher=Elections Canada |access-date=April 16, 2010}}</ref> Waddell had previously represented Vancouver Kingsway from 1979 until 1988, when the riding was abolished and Waddell transferred to [[Port Moody—Coquitlam (federal electoral district)|Port Moody—Coquitlam]].

The [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 election]] saw a rematch between Emerson and Waddell. This time, Emerson won<ref name="TO">{{cite news |first1=Allan |last1=Woods |last2=MacCharles |first2=Tonda |title=PM stresses experience in shuffle |work=The Toronto Star |date=June 26, 2008}}</ref> handily, defeating Waddell by nearly 10 points as the Liberals nearly swept [[Vancouver]].

Emerson attracted some media attention in December 2005 with a comment that NDP leader [[Jack Layton]] had a "boiled dog's head smile". While the term is translated from the common and mild [[Cantonese language|Cantonese]] insult "烚熟狗頭", Emerson said that he believed it to be a humorous phrase indicating a person with an "overextended grin". Emerson said that his wife, a Cantonese speaker, used the phrase to describe him when he posed for pictures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ndp-slams-liberal-attack-on-layton-s-smile-1.533155|title=NDP slams Liberal attack on Layton's smile |work=CBC News |date=December 29, 2005|access-date=April 15, 2014}}</ref>

==Crossing the floor==
At some point between election day and the day [[Stephen Harper]] was due to be sworn in as prime minister, Emerson accepted an offer from Harper to [[cross the floor]] and become [[Minister of International Trade]] in Harper's new [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] [[39th Canadian Parliament|minority government]].<ref name="TO"/> According to Emerson, British Columbia Conservative campaign coordinator [[John Reynolds (Canadian politician)|John Reynolds]] called him the day after the election to ask if he was interested in having a conversation with Harper.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

Gaining regional representation in [[28th Canadian Ministry|Cabinet]] from key metropolitan areas, such as Vancouver, according to Harper, was key to the decision in asking Emerson to cross the floor. Indeed, 2006 marked the first time in decades that a centre-right party had been completely shut out in Vancouver. However, Emerson's Conservative opponent, Kanman Wong, claimed on February 10, 2006, that Emerson was seriously considering crossing the floor during the run-up to the election. Wong added that he would have stood down in Emerson's favour had he done so.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/2006/02/10/1434834-sun.html |title=24 Hours Vancouver - News: Tory had plan to assist Emerson |publisher=Vancouver.24hrs.ca |date=February 21, 2006 |access-date=April 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716230113/http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/2006/02/10/1434834-sun.html |archive-date=July 16, 2012 }}</ref>

In any case, Emerson's decision was kept secret from his Liberal colleagues, the press, and even most Conservatives until February 6, 2006, when he arrived at [[Rideau Hall]], the official residence of the [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]], for the swearing-in of the new government. In addition to his International Trade portfolio, Emerson was given responsibility for the Pacific Gateway and the [[2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics]], areas of particular importance to the riding of Vancouver-Kingsway and in general, the Greater Vancouver area.  He was ranked third in Cabinet in the [[Canadian order of precedence|order of precedence]], behind Harper and [[Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (Canada)|House Leader]] [[Rob Nicholson (politician)|Rob Nicholson]], by virtue of his appointment to the Privy Council in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/key/curmin.asp?lang=E&param=P |title=The Ministry |publisher=Parl.gc.ca |access-date=April 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404131245/http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/key/curmin.asp?lang=E&param=P |archive-date=April 4, 2005 }}</ref>

Emerson had given no public indication that he was thinking of leaving the Liberal Party during the election campaign, Wong's remarks notwithstanding. As a Cabinet minister he had been featured prominently in Liberal TV ads in British Columbia promoting that party as the best choice for voters. He launched several blistering attacks against Harper and the Conservatives during the campaign, including one assertion that under a Harper government, "the strong [would] survive and the weak die". On election night, he told supporters that he wanted to be "Stephen Harper's worst nightmare." In an interview with [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] after being sworn in, he clarified to reporters about the heated partisan rhetoric used during the campaign.  Emerson told CTV that he ran his riding office on a nonpartisan basis, and that his first priority was the interests of the people of Vancouver Kingsway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060206/emerson_defection_060206 |title=Former Liberal David Emerson defects to Tories |publisher=CTV.ca |date=February 6, 2006 |access-date=April 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220113604/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060206/emerson_defection_060206 |archive-date=February 20, 2006 }}</ref>

===Controversy===

Part of the Emerson controversy stemmed from Vancouver Kingsway's voting history. The riding has long been one of the more left-leaning ones in Vancouver; most election battles take place between the Liberals and NDP. Vancouver Kingsway previously existed from 1953 to 1988 and elected a [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]] candidate only once, during the [[1958 Canadian federal election|1958 Tory landslide]]. It has not elected a Conservative or any member of its predecessor parties—the PCs, the [[Reform Party of Canada]] or the [[Canadian Alliance]]—since its recreation in 1997. The Conservative candidate in 2006, Wong, finished a distant third with only 8,700 votes—12,000 votes behind Emerson and 7,000 behind Waddell—and 19% of the total vote. In the 2004 election, the Conservative candidate, Jesse Johl, finished with 16.5% of the vote. Both totals were far less than the combined PC/Canadian Alliance vote of 34.4% in [[2000 Canadian federal election|2000]]. The NDP's vote share of less than 16% in that 2000 election jumped to more than 37% when Emerson first ran in 2004.

Liberal MP and former [[Minister of Health (Canada)|Minister of Health]], [[Ujjal Dosanjh]] noted that a poll held prior to the election showed less than 20 per cent of residents in the riding knew Emerson by name, lending credence to the assertions that the Liberal banner played a large part in his election and re-election.

Liberal National President [[Mike Eizenga]] said that Emerson knew "if he was running in that riding as a Conservative, he wouldn't have a chance" and demanded his resignation.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1139439013287&call_pageid=968332188774&col=968350116467 | location=Toronto | work=The Star | title=The Toronto Star - Breaking News, Toronto News, Ontario News, Canada News }}</ref> Democracy Watch, a nonpartisan ethics watchdog, said it planned to complain to the Ethics Commissioner since Emerson was still technically a Liberal minister when he accepted Harper's offer. The group claimed that Emerson's switch violated the federal ethics code and post-employment regulations for officeholders. NDP MP [[Peter Julian]] also called for an inquiry, claiming that the additional benefits Emerson received as a member compared to those he would have received as an opposition MP carried at least the appearance that Emerson acted in his own private interest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060210/ndp_emerson_060210/20060210 |title=NDP wants inquiry into Emerson's floor-crossing |publisher=CTV.ca |access-date=April 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220114633/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060210/ndp_emerson_060210/20060210 |archive-date=February 20, 2006 }}</ref>

[[Bill Graham (Canadian politician)|Bill Graham]], acting parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party and [[Leader of the Opposition (Canada)|Leader of the Opposition]], called Emerson's behaviour cynical and claimed his actions diminished "the faith of citizens in a system under which we have to govern."  Martin, who left on a vacation to Europe shortly after resigning as prime minister, was "astonished" by Emerson's defection and criticized both Emerson and Harper for avoiding "an appropriate level of scrutiny on this matter -- a decision that I believe robs Canadians and the people of [[Vancouver Kingsway]] of a deserved explanation".

Criticism also came from Emerson's fellow Conservatives. [[Garth Turner]], a Conservative MP from [[Ontario]] said that "anyone who crosses the floor ultimately should go back to the people for ratification and I stick by it and hopefully in this case that will happen{{nbsp}}..."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060209/emerson_softwood_allegations_060209/20060209 |title=Emerson denies stalling on softwood solution |publisher=CTV.ca |date=February 10, 2006 |access-date=April 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220124416/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060209/emerson_softwood_allegations_060209/20060209 |archive-date=February 20, 2006 }}</ref> Turner later stated his belief that his criticism "seriously limited" his future in the party. Subsequently, he was eventually kicked out of the Conservative caucus and crossed the floor to sit as a Liberal for which he was also criticized. [[Myron Thompson]] of [[Alberta]] also called for Emerson to step down and run in a by-election.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060210/emerson_turner_060210/20060210 |title=MP's career 'limited' for criticising turncoat |publisher=CTV.ca |date=February 10, 2006 |access-date=April 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070402065549/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060210/emerson_turner_060210/20060210 |archive-date=April 2, 2007 }}</ref>

However, MacKay told CTV's [[Mike Duffy Live]] that Emerson wanted to continue and finish the work he had already started as Minister of Industry under Martin on a multibillion-dollar [[softwood lumber]] deal with the United States—a deal that could potentially bring a huge windfall to Canada and particularly Emerson's major lumber producing province, British Columbia.

MacKay later also said that there was no comparison between Emerson's switch and that of [[Belinda Stronach]]. Reynolds also defended Emerson's switch, saying that Vancouver Kingsway got the better end of the bargain since "instead of having someone in opposition, they have someone who is a cabinet minister of a new government." As Minister of International Trade, Emerson would have key influence on matters relevant to constituents of Vancouver-Kingsway particularly as The Greater Vancouver Area prepared for the 2010 Olympics.  The defection also had the support of [[List of mayors of Vancouver|Vancouver Mayor]] [[Sam Sullivan]], [[premier of British Columbia|British Columbia Premier]] [[Gordon Campbell (Canadian politician)|Gordon Campbell]], the Vancouver Board of Trade, former Prime Minister [[Kim Campbell]], as well as several prominent businessmen in Vancouver.

In a letter dated Monday February 6, the Vancouver Kingsway Liberal [[riding association]] requested that Emerson repay $97,000 spent during his re-election campaign.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060207/emerson_riding_060207/20060208 |title=Vancouver Liberals want Emerson to repay $97,000 |publisher=CTV.ca |date=February 8, 2006 |access-date=April 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220120242/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060207/emerson_riding_060207/20060208 |archive-date=February 20, 2006 }}</ref> Emerson stated that he did not intend to repay any expenses, arguing that he had raised large sums for the Liberal party from his corporate connections. On February 8, 2006, Emerson described Liberal attacks on his defection as a sign of "deep sickness" and said that his children were being treated with hostility at school because of his defection.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/vancouver-liberals-want-emerson-to-repay-97-000-1.600600|title=Vancouver Liberals want Emerson to repay $97,000|publisher=CBC News|date=February 8, 2006|access-date=April 15, 2014}}</ref>  Harper called the attacks on Emerson "superficial," saying that the switch was made "in the best interests of not just British Columbia but good government".  Emerson had given some thought to resigning over the furore, but told CBC News in Vancouver on February 10 that he would not resign or run in a byelection.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/i-won-t-quit-embattled-emerson-tells-cbc-1.578982|title='I won't quit' embattled Emerson tells CBC|publisher=CBC News|date=February 11, 2006|access-date=April 15, 2014}}</ref>  Aside from that appearance, Emerson cancelled a telephone press conference on February 9 due to traffic.

The furore reinvigorated support for legislation requiring MPs who switch parties to step down and run for their own vacancy in a by-election.  NDP MP [[Peter Stoffer]] announced on February 13 that he would reintroduce a [[private member's bill]] making such a provision.  Turner planned to introduce a similar bill, despite pressure from his party to back off.  Speaking on Vancouver radio station [[CKNW]], Emerson said he would be glad to discuss the bill in Parliament:  "I'll participate in that debate, I may even vote for it, and I will certainly abide by it."  <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060213/emerson_crossing_060213/20060214 |title=Emerson says he might support floor-crossing law |publisher=CTV.ca |access-date=April 16, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Stoffer's earlier floor-crossing bill (C-251) was defeated during the last Canadian Parliament.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.howdtheyvote.ca/vote.php?id=241 |title=How'd They Vote? :: Bill C-251, Second Reading |publisher=Howdtheyvote.ca |date=November 23, 2005 |access-date=April 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706183251/http://howdtheyvote.ca/vote.php?id=241 |archive-date=July 6, 2011 }}</ref>  Emerson vowed to resign only if such a law were passed retroactively or if the ethics commissioner found him to be at fault.

A crowd of over 700<ref>{{cite web |last=Vancouver |first=The |url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=1e797bd2-4ad0-4830-820a-8fd7bd88f098&k=71383 |title=Calls grow for Emerson to step down |publisher=Canada.com |date=February 13, 2006 |access-date=April 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406102919/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=1e797bd2-4ad0-4830-820a-8fd7bd88f098&k=71383 |archive-date=April 6, 2012 }}</ref> gathered at an NDP-organized protest rally in Emerson's riding on Saturday February 11. Another smaller rally took place at Emerson's riding office the next day. On April 2, a crowd, variously estimated between 1000 and 1200, participated in a [[Walk for Democracy]] organized by a group calling themselves [[Real Democracy]]. At times, the tightly packed crowd stretched out over five blocks along one lane of Kingsway as the march proceeded along the 2 kilometre route past Emerson's constituency office to the rally. The next day, another group flew an airplane over Canada's parliament asking the Member of Parliament to "call home". This was in reference to the fact that David Emerson had remained low key and made few public appearances in the riding for the months of February and March.

According to an online poll from [[The Globe and Mail]], 77% of respondents wanted Emerson to step down and run in a by-election.  A similar online poll conducted by [[Maclean's]] magazine showed 66% wanted Emerson to run in a by-election. Ipsos Reid in mid-February 2006 conducted a poll of British Columbians and found that even in staunchly Conservative areas of the province, respondents were 75% in favour of a by-election being called.

On March 3, 2006, Ethics Commissioner [[Bernard Shapiro]] announced that he was launching a preliminary inquiry into conflict-of-interest allegations against Emerson and Harper. Shapiro said he will look into what influence may have been wielded in the decision by Emerson to cross the floor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060301/emerson_election_060303/20060303?hub=TopStories |title=Harper to be investigated by ethics commissioner |publisher=CTV.ca |date=March 3, 2006 |access-date=April 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820063514/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060301/emerson_election_060303/20060303?hub=TopStories |archive-date=August 20, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/harper-loath-to-co-operate-with-ethics-commissioner-1.601717|title=Harper 'loath' to co-operate with ethics commissioner|publisher=CBC News|date=March 3, 2006|access-date=April 15, 2014}}</ref> On March 20, 2006, Shapiro stated that he was "satisfied that no special inducement was offered by Mr. Harper to convince Mr. Emerson to join his cabinet and his party". He found no wrongdoing on Emerson's part and recommended a parliamentary debate on floor crossing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/no-rules-broken-in-emerson-affair-watchdog-1.587184|title=No rules broken in Emerson affair: watchdog|publisher=CBC News|date=March 20, 2006|access-date=April 15, 2014}}</ref>

==Resolution of softwood lumber issue==
On April 27, 2006, Prime Minister Harper announced that Canada had reached an agreement with the United States on [[United States-Canada softwood lumber dispute|softwood lumber]]. Working closely with Minister Emerson and Canadian [[ambassador]] to the U.S. [[Michael Wilson (Canadian politician)|Michael Wilson]], this landmark agreement resolved a dispute disrupting Canada–U.S. relations since 1982 when U.S. lumber producers first petitioned against Canadian softwood lumber imports under U.S. countervailing duty law. Previous Liberal governments had enacted two five-year deals, the last one expiring March 31, 2001. Since then, Canada had been locked in costly domestic and international litigation as U.S. lumber companies charged Canada with dumping subsidized lumber into the U.S. market.

The softwood lumber deal ensured no quotas or tariffs at current lumber prices, repayment of at least $4 billion in unfairly collected duties to lumber companies, and provincial and regional flexibility depending on operating conditions. "Canada’s bargaining position was strong; our conditions were clear; and this agreement delivers", said the prime minister.  "It’s a good deal that resolves this long-standing dispute and allows us to move on."  The deal also received support from Canada's three major softwood producing provinces, British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1141 |title=Prime Minister of Canada: Prime Minister announces Canada and U.S. reach softwood deal |publisher=Pm.gc.ca |access-date=April 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322121632/http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=1141 |archive-date=March 22, 2010 }}</ref>

Following the initial announcement, the province of British Columbia expressed dissatisfaction with the agreement's details.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 5, 2006 |title=B.C. warns it won't co-operate unless softwood lumber deal is amended  |url=http://www.cbc.ca/cp/business/060705/b070572.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060715063946/http://www.cbc.ca/cp/business/060705/b070572.html |archive-date=July 15, 2006 |access-date=July 9, 2006}}</ref> Claiming industry support, B.C.'s forestry minister, Rich Coleman, threatened to "derail the deal" if the provincial government's concerns were not met. Under contention were several details, including an "opt-out" clause (allowing either Canadian or U.S. governments to back out of the deal after 23 months).<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 7, 2006 |title=Trade truce faces trouble, industry warns |url=https://cscb.ca/article/trade-truce-faces-trouble-industry-warns |access-date=2024-04-03 |work=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto}} </ref>

A number of analysts described the deal as a shameful capitulation of Canadian interests. The deal included language requiring all Canadian companies to drop legal actions against the U.S. government.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060706.wxsoftwood06/BNStory/National/home |title=National |publisher=globeandmail.com |access-date=April 16, 2010 |location=Toronto }} {{Dead link|date=September 2013|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref>

On September 12, 2006, Emerson and U.S Trade Representative [[Susan Schwab]] officially signed the deal in Ottawa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060911/softwood_deal_060912/20060912 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901085734/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060911/softwood_deal_060912/20060912 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 1, 2009 |title=Emerson and U.S. counterpart ink softwood deal |publisher=CTV.ca |date=September 12, 2006 |access-date=April 16, 2010 }}</ref>

The softwood lumber deal was passed on December 6, 2006, and received Royal Assent on December 12, 2006.

==Foreign Affairs ministry==
On May 26, 2008, Emerson was appointed [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] following the resignation of [[Maxime Bernier]], though it was reported at the time that Emerson's appointment to the position would be brief.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/bernier-quits-cabinet-post-over-security-breach-1.723124|title=Bernier quits cabinet post over security breach|publisher=CBC News|date=May 26, 2008|access-date=April 15, 2014}}</ref> In a cabinet shuffle on June 25, 2008, Prime Minister Harper finalized Emerson's position as Minister of Foreign Affairs.<ref>''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', June 25, 2008, p. A1.</ref>

==Retirement==
On September 2, 2008, it was reported that Emerson would not run in the [[2008 Canadian federal election|2008 federal election]], citing the lengthy commute from Vancouver to Ottawa as the reason.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/emerson-hearn-will-not-seek-re-election-1.320994 |title=Emerson, Hearn will not seek re-election - CTV News |publisher=CTV News |date=September 2, 2008 |access-date=April 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106195532/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080902/emerson_election_080902/20080902?hub=TopStories |archive-date=January 6, 2009 }}</ref>
 
In 2009, he was [https://web.archive.org/web/20100331113347/http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=2609 named co-chair] (with [[Paul Tellier]]) of the [http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&Page=secretariats&Sub=spsp-psps&Doc=psr-rfp/pmac-ccfp/index-eng.htm Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on the Public Service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519202000/http://www.pco-bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&Page=secretariats&Sub=spsp-psps&Doc=psr-rfp/pmac-ccfp/index-eng.htm |date=May 19, 2011 }}. He also became a member of the International Advisory Council of the Chinese [[sovereign wealth fund]] [[China Investment Corporation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.china-inv.cn/cicen/governance/management_international.html |title=China Investment Corporation |publisher=China-inv.cn |access-date=April 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323220717/http://www.china-inv.cn/cicen/governance/management_international.html |archive-date=March 23, 2010 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
<!-- Dead note "cbc20060206a": [https://web.archive.org/web/20060208020604/http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/02/06/emerson-jumps060206.html Elected as Liberal, Emerson joins Conservative cabinet], ''[[CBC News]]'', February 6, 2006 -->
<!-- Dead note "theshotgun20060209a": [http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2006/02/emerson_inner_s.html Emerson's inner state], ''The Shotgun'' (''[[Western Standard]]'' blog), February 9, 2006 -->
<!-- Dead note "cbc20060211a": [https://web.archive.org/web/20060215144748/http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/02/11/emerson-ndp060211.html Vancouver rally calls for Emerson to resign], ''[[CBC News]]'', February 11, 2006 -->
<!-- Dead note "vancouvercourier": [http://www.vancourier.com/issues06/024106/news/024106nn1.html Divided over David], ''[[Vancouver Courier]]'', February 23, 2006 -->
<!-- Dead note "vancouversun": [http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/columnists/story.html?id=33854f24-148b-4dc9-a439-2c237d778ba5 Emerson's double-cross strictly about ethics, integrity], ''[[Vancouver Sun]]'', February 25, 2006 -->
<!-- Dead note "cknw": [http://www.cknw.com/news/news_local.cfm?cat=7428109912&rem=31550&red=80110923aPBIny&wids=410&gi=1&gm=news_local.cfm Emerson Protesters Arrested], ''[[CKNW]]'', February 25, 2006 -->
<!-- Dead note "globeandmail": [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060227.wemers0227/BNStory/National/home Can win despite backlash, Emerson says], ''[[Globe and Mail]]'', February 27, 2006 -->
<!-- Dead note "globeandmail": [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060303.wcommiss0303/BNStory/National/homeEthics Czar to probe Emerson move], ''[[Globe and Mail]]'', March 3, 2006 -->

==External links==
*[http://www.DavidEmersonLegal.com/ DavidEmersonLegal.com - Legal issues arising from David Emerson's 2006 change of political party]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060521191535/http://w01.international.gc.ca/MinPub/Minister.asp?ID=140&Language=E Profile]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060504141454/http://w01.international.gc.ca/minpub/Publication.asp?publication_id=383934&Language=E Softwood Lumber Deal]
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=17044}}

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