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91ƵKick in the gut91Ƶ: union wants Canfor tenure stripped after B.C. mill closures

Steelworkers say firm should not be allowed to harvest timber if they can91Ƶt process it in the area
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The Canfor Vavenby mill shut down in summer 2019. The company has promised $375,000 to be paid out to the DOC, TNRD and United Way. (File photo)

The United Steelworkers union is calling Canfor Corp.91Ƶs decision to shutter two northern British Columbia sawmills a 91Ƶkick in the gut91Ƶ for workers who will lose their jobs, calling for the company to lose its forest tenure rights in the province.

The union91Ƶs 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 Canfor91Ƶs Fort St. John operation belong to United Steelworkers.

The statement says the union membership was 91Ƶdevastated91Ƶ to hear Canfor91Ƶs 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 91Ƶpunitive.91Ƶ

Brian O91ƵRourke, president of the USW local in Prince George, says in the union91Ƶs statement that while the union will fight for 91Ƶevery benefit and right afforded to members by the collective agreement,91Ƶ the province must stand up for the beleaguered sector and rural communities.

He asks when 91Ƶtenure and timber rights held by Canfor91Ƶ will be taken away 91Ƶif they can91Ƶt mill that timber in those communities.91Ƶ

91ƵThere 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 public91Ƶs resource and the communities it supports?91Ƶ

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

91ƵIf 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,91Ƶ says Scott Lunny, the union91Ƶs director for Western Canada.

B.C. Forests Minister Bruce Ralston said in a statement the province would fight against 91Ƶunfair duties and stand up for forestry workers91Ƶ and agreed with Canfor that the U.S. Department of Commerce91Ƶs decision to increase softwood lumber duties on top of low prices for lumber was hurting forestry communities.

Ralston said the forest sector was a 91Ƶfoundational part91Ƶ 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 91Ƶglobal market challenges persist,91Ƶ the province must do more to mitigate those impacts such as 91Ƶsetting a target for a consistently available level of harvest.91Ƶ

Coady said in her statement that there was a 91Ƶneed for immediate government action to address the root causes91Ƶ of the threat facing B.C.91Ƶs forestry sector, with predictable access to fibre being the most pressing.

91ƵUrgent action is required to defend B.C. producers, workers, and communities from the disruptive impacts of these unfair and unwarranted tariffs,91Ƶ Coady said.

91ƵWithout decisive intervention, the viability of this foundational industry is at risk.91Ƶ

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