The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday, Jan. 20, edition that the Nova Scotia government is defending itself against accusations from three provinces of being secretive and undermining Canada's fight with the U.S. over softwood lumber. The Globe's Brent Jang writes that Nova Scotia is urging the U.S. Department of Commerce to deny requests from Quebec, Alberta and Ontario for more details on its timber harvesting fee calculations. Nova Scotia government lawyers told U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that Quebec, Alberta and Ontario are on a "fishing expedition" to "cast aspersions." Nova Scotia claims it should not be blamed for conducting surveys of private timberland owners that might lead to higher tree-cutting fees compared with other provinces. The U.S. has imposed countervailing duties, arguing that other provinces have lower fees than Nova Scotia, which is exempt from U.S. lumber duties. "The government of Nova Scotia categorically rejects the provincial governments' insinuation that the government of Nova Scotia is trying to intentionally disadvantage the Canadian softwood lumber industry," the lawyers said in their letter to Mr. Lutnick.