British Columbia91裸聊视频檚 forests minister says the province will fight against 91裸聊视频渦nfair duties and stand up for forestry workers91裸聊视频� after Canfor Corp. announced the closure of two northern B.C. sawmills, partly blaming 91裸聊视频減unitive91裸聊视频� U.S. tariffs imposed last month.
Bruce Ralston says the U.S. Department of Commerce91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渇oundational part91裸聊视频� 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 Canfor91裸聊视频檚 B.C. operations had lost 91裸聊视频渉undreds of millions of dollars91裸聊视频� in recent years, something he also connected to 91裸聊视频渋ncreasing regulatory complexity.91裸聊视频�
But the company91裸聊视频檚 challenges were exacerbated by the 91裸聊视频減unitive U.S. tariffs91裸聊视频� announced on Aug. 14, he said.
He said that delaying the closures of the Vanderhoof and Fort St. John mills would 91裸聊视频減rolong the punishing anti-dumping duties and put additional operations at risk.91裸聊视频�
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 91裸聊视频渄eeply shocked and saddened91裸聊视频� by Canfor91裸聊视频檚 announcement.
91裸聊视频淭his news is a significant hit to our community and the families directly affected,91裸聊视频� Hansen said in a statement.
91裸聊视频淐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.91裸聊视频�
Peace River North MLA Dan Davies called the closures 91裸聊视频渁n unbelievable turn of events.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淐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,91裸聊视频� he said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
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