Feds form working group with B.C. to support forestry sector
The feds announced $1.2 billion in federal support for the softwood lumber industry in August, but Premier David Eby has pushed for further support since.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Politicians from B.C. and Ottawa met in Vancouver Monday for a forestry summit, where they agreed to create a working group on supporting the industry in the face of ever-increasing U.S. fees and tariffs.
In September, the Americans imposed anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian companies ranging from 26 per cent to more than 47 per cent, and then added another 10 per cent last month, claiming Canada’s industry is a U.S. national security threat.
The fees have been a significant blow for B.C.'s already struggling forestry sector, which employs tens of thousands of workers in the province.
The feds announced $1.2 billion in federal support for the softwood lumber industry in August, but Premier David Eby has pushed for further support since.
Speaking after the forestry summit on Monday, he said the federal government's commitment to a working group with the province felt 'very heartening.'
Kim Haakstad, the president of the B.C. Council of Forest Industries, said in a statement that the group is pleased the governments are working together to keep people working — even when markets are challenging.
Haakstad said the working group should also include the industry to help focus on keeping mills open, which means prioritizing a new softwood lumber deal and accelerating the rollout of the $1.2 billion from federal government.
Courtesy: www.cbc.ca