The province has announced its commitment to resolving a long-standing lumber dispute with the United States through the establishment of the newly formed B.C. Softwood Lumber Advisory Council.
This council will provide strategic advice to the Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar, and is composed of leaders from the forestry sector, labor representatives, U.S. relations experts, and government officials.
Minister Parmar says the current duties imposed by the U.S. on Canadian softwood lumber are unjustified and have burdened the industry for years. The ministry anticipates that the duties could double by the end of the year.
“Bringing this team together, I am ready to throw the full weight of B.C. in the ring to fight these duties. We are going to defend the hard-working forestry workers of B.C. from these unfair duties,” said Parmar in a news release.
However, this initiative may be too little too late for the Peace Region.
In 2024, Canfor announced the closure of its Fort St. John sawmill, attributing the decision to increased U.S. tariffs and regulatory complexities, resulting in the loss of 220 jobs.
In am interview with CJDC-TV Monday, Jordan Kealy criticized the NDP government, citing the damage done to the forest sector long before former President Trump’s tariff threats.
“If you want to see a perfect example of who’s done the most damage to our forestry sector, that’s the NDP,” said the MLA for Peace River North.
The province says the origin of the U.S. dispute dates back several decades, coming to a head after the expiration of the Softwood Lumber Agreement in 2015. Two years later, the U.S. began imposing tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber.
The province has been working with the federal government to explore all avenues for resolution, with settlement panels consistently ruling in Canada’s favor. These panels have determined that B.C.‘s forest policies comply with international agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement.
B.C. softwood lumber plays a crucial role in the U.S. housing market, accounting for nearly 10 per cent of the wood used to build American homes. Last year alone, the province exported more than $3.3 billion worth of lumber to the U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump had ordered 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports, with the exception of energy, which would be subject to a 10 percent tariff, but they have since been paused.