British Columbia害羞草研究所檚 forests minister says the province will fight against 害羞草研究所渦nfair duties and stand up for forestry workers害羞草研究所� after Canfor Corp. announced the closure of two northern B.C. sawmills, partly blaming 害羞草研究所減unitive害羞草研究所� U.S. tariffs imposed last month.
Bruce Ralston says the U.S. Department of Commerce害羞草研究所檚 decision to increase punishing softwood lumber duties, on top of low prices for lumber, is hurting forestry communities.
Canfor Corp. announced Wednesday that it was shutting the Plateau mill in Vanderhoof and its Fort St. John operation would also remove 670 million board feet of annual production capacity.
The company blamed the closures on the challenge of accessing economically viable timber, as well as ongoing financial losses and weak lumber markets, but said the final blow was the big increase in U.S. tariffs.
Ralston says the forest sector is a 害羞草研究所渇oundational part害羞草研究所� of the province and the government will work to support local jobs.
He says the province is focused on supporting the approximately 500 workers who are impacted by the closures, and is also working to increase access to fibre and support for made-in-B.C. wood manufacturing.
President and CEO Don Kayne said in a statement that Canfor害羞草研究所檚 B.C. operations had lost 害羞草研究所渉undreds of millions of dollars害羞草研究所� in recent years, something he also connected to 害羞草研究所渋ncreasing regulatory complexity.害羞草研究所�
But the company害羞草研究所檚 challenges were exacerbated by the 害羞草研究所減unitive U.S. tariffs害羞草研究所� announced on Aug. 14, he said.
He said that delaying the closures of the Vanderhoof and Fort St. John mills would 害羞草研究所減rolong the punishing anti-dumping duties and put additional operations at risk.害羞草研究所�
On Aug. 14, the U.S. nearly doubled duties on softwood lumber, in a move the Canadian government called unfair and unwarranted.
The duties increased from 8.05 per cent to 14.54 per cent.
Fort St. John Mayor Lilia Hansen said the community was 害羞草研究所渄eeply shocked and saddened害羞草研究所� by Canfor害羞草研究所檚 announcement.
害羞草研究所淭his news is a significant hit to our community and the families directly affected,害羞草研究所� Hansen said in a statement.
害羞草研究所淐ity Council has worked closely with industry partners like Canfor through recent challenging times, and we remain committed to advocating for better regulatory conditions to support our local economy and workforce.害羞草研究所�
Peace River North MLA Dan Davies called the closures 害羞草研究所渁n unbelievable turn of events.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淐anfor has been a part of this community for years. Again, horrible government forestry policy that needs to be fixed. My heart goes out to all of the families,害羞草研究所� he said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
READ ALSO:
