MP for Peace River—Westlock, Arnold Viersen, has released a statement following an announcement from the United States that it’s increasing tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber to 35.19 per cent.
Viersen notes, within the last 12 months, softwood lumber tariffs have risen from 8.05 per cent to 14.54 per cent under the Biden administration, followed by an initial 20.56 per cent under the Trump administration.
He adds, in 2016, the Liberal government promised to negotiate a softwood lumber exports agreement within 100 days. It’s been nearly 10 years since then, and Viersen says forestry sector workers have paid “a heavy price for this lack of leadership.”
The most recent tariff increase represents a “serious threat” to nearly 40,000 forestry related jobs in Alberta, Viersen commented, 18,000 of which are directly employed by Alberta’s forestry industry. He expects to see impacts to companies across Peace River—Westlock, such as Millar Western Forest Products, Boucher Bros. Lumber, Evergreen Lumber, High Prairie Forest Products, Vanderwell Contractors, Blue Ridge Lumber, and La Crete Sawmills.
“Conservatives have a strong record of standing up for workers and getting deals done,” he commented. “It was former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper who got a softwood lumber trade deal done within six months of forming government which lasted his entire term. Conservatives are ready to work with all parties and get a deal for Canadians.”
Viersen calls upon the prime minister to “take all necessary steps to have these tariffs on softwood reversed and immediately begin negotiating a new framework agreement on softwood lumber exports,” stating that thousands of jobs in Alberta depend on it.
