NDP: Liberals must secure deal on softwood lumber

New Democrats are renewing their calls to the Liberals to secure a deal on softwood lumber with a second round of duties coming from the U.S.

OTTAWA – Once again, the NDP is urging the Liberal government to stand up for Canadian jobs and fair trade following the U.S. announcement to apply another round of unfair tariffs on the Canadian forestry industry.

“After both the former Conservative and current Liberal governments failed to secure a deal on softwood, putting thousands of Canadians jobs at risk, our lumber industry has been hit with a second round of unfair duties,” said Tracey Ramsey, NDP Critic for International Trade. “Canadian workers and producers are facing mill closures and job losses that will harm communities across the country."

Ramsey, along with Richard Cannings, NDP Critic for Natural Resources, are currently in Washington meeting with members of the Senate and Congress to stress the importance of fair deals with the Canadian forestry industry. Our lumber industry employs over 200,000 people from coast to coast to coast. In the last softwood lumber dispute, nearly 400 sawmills closed in Canada, costing over 20,000 Canadian jobs. These job losses disproportionately hurt rural communities.

“Workers cannot be caught in the middle of another softwood lumber trade war,” added Cannings. “It’s time the Liberals come clean on why they were not able to conclude a new Softwood Lumber Agreement, tell communities who are suffering when they can expect a deal, and take the necessary steps to immediately fix this.”