Ravi Parmar

Growing concern in the forestry industry has triggered what’s being called an emergency meeting with federal ministers coming to Vancouver next week. BC. Forestry Minister Ravi Parmar announced the development on Tuesday. “We’re working out logistics right now for a softwood summit to be able to talk about this emerging issue,” said Parmar. “For us here in British Columbia, forestry is our auto sector, forestry is our steel sector.” The so-called summit is expected to include a demand for financial support from Ottawa. It will also involve industry players who are bracing for additional duties and tariffs on one of B.C.’s key exports. …Brian Menzies, with the Independent Wood Processors Association, welcomes the meeting in light of recent developments in the U.S. …BC. Conservative Leader John Rustad says the NDP’s red tape and slow permitting created a problem long before the latest tariffs.