David Eby

BC’s softwood industry is facing an “existential threat” from increasing U.S. tariffs that needs to be treated with the same urgency by the federal government as threats to Canadian steel and auto jobs, B.C. Premier David Eby says. Eby held a news conference Tuesday, surrounded by union and industry representatives on the same day an additional 10% duty came into effect. …“When auto parts makers, … when steelworkers in Ontario are in trouble it’s treated as a national emergency, and rightly so. These are foundational industries for Ontario, for Canada,” Eby said. “What we’re asking for today is that same respect, that same concern, that same sense of emergency, is shared for the forest sector in this country.” …“I’m afraid some will not survive the current state of affairs. Mill workers, loggers, truckers, contractors and all the jobs dependent on an active forestry industry are all under imminent threat.”

In related coverage:

• By Courtney Dickson, CBC News: BC premier demands federal support for forestry workers