The National Post reports in its Friday, May 1, edition that Quebec's representative for the upcoming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, Louise Blais, is warning that Ottawa's strategy of "waiting and not rushing" to sign a tariff relief deal with the U.S. carries its own risk "because things could get worse." A Postmedia dispatch to the Post reports that Ms. Blais is an experienced diplomat, having served in embassies in Washington, Tokyo and Paris. Ms. Blais says she has been providing informal advice and information in a pro bono manner to the Quebec government for about a year, but she got a call from Quebec Premier Christine Frechette after she took office asking her to consider taking on a more formal role. In the lead-up to the CUSMA review, Ms. Blais will act as an "emissary" for the province. Ms. Blais rejects the idea that there's no urgency for Canada on signing a trade deal with its neighbour. She says: "Quebec believes that we need to engage constantly and without delay. The uncertainty is having real impacts. We have companies now that are closing in Quebec." She says that the forestry sector and its related industries have been hit particularly hard.