Ravi Parmar @BCgov
B.C. ministers expressed conflicting feelings about a range of tariff response measures announced by the federal government on Wednesday, Nov. 26. On the one hand, an additional $1 billion is being offered to support the forest industry, which faces 45 per cent combined tariffs and duties on softwood lumber. The money for lumber is split into two $500 million funds, one for a loan program for companies through the Business Development Bank of Canada, and the other through a tariff loan program. This money comes in addition to $1.2 billion in previously announced support. It is not known how much of this money will wind up in B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar reckons that if it is fairly distributed, B.C. would get about 50 per cent. Parmar applauded this extra support being announced so soon after federal tariff envoy Dominic LeBlanc came to B.C. for a forestry summit.
- In related news: The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities welcomes federal measures