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

8 llamas rescued from South Surrey

The BC SPCA says it has rescued eight llamas, including a four-month-old baby, from a property in South Surrey. The society says the animals were at large and possibly abandoned when they were found with heavy matting and overgrown toenails.

8 llamas rescued from South Surrey

Family says B.C. man's cremated remains in limbo due to Canada Post strike

A Quebec woman whose father died in British Columbia last month says her family has been unable to properly grieve because the Canada Post strike has left his remains in limbo. Emily Walstrom said her father's cremated remains were put into the mail before Canada Post employees walked off the job on Nov. 15.

Family says B.C. man's cremated remains in limbo due to Canada Post strike

Robson Square ice rink open for winter

Vancouver's Robson Square ice rink is open for the winter. The Ministry of Citizens' Services says the rink, which draws more than 100-thousand skaters annually, will run seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Feb. 28, 2025.

Robson Square ice rink open for winter

Man charged in break and enter

Mounties in Richmond say a man has been charged after an alleged five-day break and enter spree in the city a year ago. They say that between November 8th and 12th, 2023, officers were called to nine break-and-enters in apartment buildings in the city centre.

Man charged in break and enter

Trudeau says no question incoming U.S. president Trump is serious on tariff threat

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says incoming U.S. president Donald Trump's threats on tariffs should be taken seriously. President-elect Trump threatened on social media this week to impose a 25-per-cent import tariff on goods coming from Canada and Mexico over concerns about border enforcement.

Trudeau says no question incoming U.S. president Trump is serious on tariff threat

Supreme Court affirms constitutionality of B.C. law on opioid health costs recovery

Canada's top court has affirmed the constitutionality of a law allowing British Columbia to pursue a class-action lawsuit against opioid providers on behalf of other provinces, the territories and the federal government. The Supreme Court of Canada's 6-1 decision Friday is another step toward a potential cross-country action by governments that paid to treat patients who took the addictive drugs.