Brenda Bailey

British Columbia’s finance minister said she thinks the newly announced federal budget aligns with provincial priorities, but is calling on Ottawa to follow through on supporting forestry and the North Coast Transmission Line. Brenda Bailey said B.C. expects the federal government to support workers in the softwood lumber industry, which is now facing what she calls “extraordinary” duties and tariffs of up to more than 45%. …Bailey’s comments come after an emergency meeting on softwood lumber earlier this week between Premier David Eby and Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister responsible for Canada-US trade, among others. Both Victoria and Ottawa have subsequently agreed to creating a working group to support the industry. …The Forest Products Association of Canada said the federal government must find more certain trading arrangements with the US. President Derek Nighbor said that “lumber must remain a priority at the negotiating table.”