National

B.C. forests minister says Trump tariffs could be 'devastating' to sector

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 Jan, 2025 04:03 PM

B.C.'s Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says U.S. softwood lumber duties and president-elect Donald Trump's threatened tariffs could be "devastating" to the province's forestry sector.

He says the province needs to bring a "team B.C. and a team Canada" approach to fighting the duties.

Parmar, speaking in Prince George where the government announced $5.1 million in capital support for the forest sector, says the federal government needs to step up and help the industry get back on its feet in B.C.

Today, @Diana_Gibson_BC and I announced the Government of BC is investing $5.1M from the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund towards seven forest-sector capital projects and five planning projects in communities throughout the province. pic.twitter.com/5dAd0P0mtB
— Ravi Parmar (@rparmar_BC) January 15, 2025

The funding announcement, through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, aims to support seven capital projects as well as five planning projects.

B.C.'s timber industry has suffered numerous mill closures in recent years, involving the loss of thousands of jobs.

Jobs Minister Diana Gibson says diversifying the economy is a way of fighting back against the threat of U.S. tariffs by making the province less reliant on north-south trade.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

CSC staff member assaulted in a prison

Correctional Service Canada says a member of the staff was assaulted at the Kent Maximum Security Institution. The federal agency says the staff member was taken to an outside hospital to be treated and evaluated.

CSC staff member assaulted in a prison

BC 1st province to sign Pharmacare agreement

British Columbia is becoming the first province in Canada to sign a pharmacare agreement with the federal government. The agreement means B-C is the first province to have the federal government help fund hormone replacement therapy and diabetes expenses.

BC 1st province to sign Pharmacare agreement

Pedestrian struck on Highway 97

Kelowna R-C-M-P say it is investigating the death of a pedestrian along Highway 97. Emergency health services were called to a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle along the highway and Burtch Road.

Pedestrian struck on Highway 97

B.C. to scrap carbon tax if federal government drops requirement: Eby

British Columbia Premier David Eby says his government would end the carbon tax on consumers if the federal government removed the legal requirement. Eby says B.C. residents are struggling with affordability, but the government would still ensure that big polluters pay a price for carbon to take action on climate change.

B.C. to scrap carbon tax if federal government drops requirement: Eby

Singh says NDP drafting climate plan, won't say if it'll include consumer carbon tax

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh won't say whether he would keep the consumer carbon price if his party forms government at the next election. Speaking to reporters in Montreal on Thursday, Singh criticized both the Liberals and the Conservatives over their approaches to fighting climate change.

Singh says NDP drafting climate plan, won't say if it'll include consumer carbon tax

Canada's consul general in New York at House committee today about official residence

Canada's consul general in New York is meeting with MPs today to talk about the purchase of his official residence. Former CTV journalist Tom Clark is answering questions at the House operations committee which is studying the government's decision to buy a $9-million condo in Manhattan.