The United Steelworkers union is calling Canfor Corp.害羞草研究所檚 decision to shutter two northern British Columbia sawmills a 害羞草研究所渒ick in the gut害羞草研究所� for workers who will lose their jobs, calling for the company to lose its forest tenure rights in the province.

The union害羞草研究所檚 local chapter in Prince George, B.C., says in a statement that about 325 of the 500 workers at the Plateau mill in Vanderhoof and Canfor害羞草研究所檚 Fort St. John operation belong to United Steelworkers.

The statement says the union membership was 害羞草研究所渄evastated害羞草研究所� to hear Canfor害羞草研究所檚 announcement on Wednesday that the mills would close by the end of this year, removing 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 last month in U.S. tariffs that Canfor called 害羞草研究所減unitive.害羞草研究所�

Brian O害羞草研究所橰ourke, president of the USW local in Prince George, says in the union害羞草研究所檚 statement that while the union will fight for 害羞草研究所渆very benefit and right afforded to members by the collective agreement,害羞草研究所� the province must stand up for the beleaguered sector and rural communities.

He asks when 害羞草研究所渢enure and timber rights held by Canfor害羞草研究所� will be taken away 害羞草研究所渋f they can害羞草研究所檛 mill that timber in those communities.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭here used to be accountability and a social contract for the forest industry to provide good-paying jobs to these communities in exchange for the right to harvest the timber. When is the government going to stand up for the public害羞草研究所檚 resource and the communities it supports?害羞草研究所�

According to the USW release, Canfor has closed 10 mills in the province since November 2011, including nine in northern B.C.

害羞草研究所淚f Canfor wants out of B.C., and it sure looks like it does, then we need to find someone who will provide high-paying, community-supporting jobs for the right to harvest the timber,害羞草研究所� says Scott Lunny, the union害羞草研究所檚 director for Western Canada.

B.C. Forests Minister Bruce Ralston said in a statement the province would fight against 害羞草研究所渦nfair duties and stand up for forestry workers害羞草研究所� and agreed with Canfor that the U.S. Department of Commerce害羞草研究所檚 decision to increase softwood lumber duties on top of low prices for lumber was hurting forestry communities.

Ralston said the forest sector was a 害羞草研究所渇oundational part害羞草研究所� of the province and the government would work to support local jobs.

He said the province was focused on supporting the workers impacted by the closures, and is also working to increase access to fibre and support made-in-B.C. wood manufacturing.

In a written statement, B.C. Council of Forest Industries president Linda Coady said while 害羞草研究所済lobal market challenges persist,害羞草研究所� the province must do more to mitigate those impacts such as 害羞草研究所渟etting a target for a consistently available level of harvest.害羞草研究所�

Coady said in her statement that there was a 害羞草研究所渘eed for immediate government action to address the root causes害羞草研究所� of the threat facing B.C.害羞草研究所檚 forestry sector, with predictable access to fibre being the most pressing.

害羞草研究所淯rgent action is required to defend B.C. producers, workers, and communities from the disruptive impacts of these unfair and unwarranted tariffs,害羞草研究所� Coady said.

害羞草研究所淲ithout decisive intervention, the viability of this foundational industry is at risk.害羞草研究所�

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