British Columbia香蕉视频直播檚 forests minister says the province will fight against 香蕉视频直播渦nfair duties and stand up for forestry workers香蕉视频直播� after Canfor Corp. announced the closure of two northern B.C. sawmills, partly blaming 香蕉视频直播減unitive香蕉视频直播� U.S. tariffs imposed last month.
Bruce Ralston says the U.S. Department of Commerce香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播渇oundational part香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 B.C. operations had lost 香蕉视频直播渉undreds of millions of dollars香蕉视频直播� in recent years, something he also connected to 香蕉视频直播渋ncreasing regulatory complexity.香蕉视频直播�
But the company香蕉视频直播檚 challenges were exacerbated by the 香蕉视频直播減unitive U.S. tariffs香蕉视频直播� announced on Aug. 14, he said.
He said that delaying the closures of the Vanderhoof and Fort St. John mills would 香蕉视频直播減rolong the punishing anti-dumping duties and put additional operations at risk.香蕉视频直播�
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 香蕉视频直播渄eeply shocked and saddened香蕉视频直播� by Canfor香蕉视频直播檚 announcement.
香蕉视频直播淭his news is a significant hit to our community and the families directly affected,香蕉视频直播� Hansen said in a statement.
香蕉视频直播淐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.香蕉视频直播�
Peace River North MLA Dan Davies called the closures 香蕉视频直播渁n unbelievable turn of events.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淐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,香蕉视频直播� he said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
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