April 7, 2009
The B.C. forest industry is slamming the NDP’s reckless forest policies, warning that if implemented they would lead to job losses and company failures.
The Lumber Trade Council and Coast Forest Products Association have both responded today to NDP Forest Critic Bob Simpson’s comments that an NDP government would provoke a trade war with the U.S.
Here’s what they said:
- “It simply does not make sense to risk the business relationship with the customer we are most dependent upon. I respectfully disagree with Bob Simpson’s advice. If taken it would jeopardize jobs and actually lead to more production curtailments and possible company failures.” – John Allan, President of the BC Lumber Trade Council.
- “Maintaining the integrity of the Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Agreement and helping forest workers and communities is possible without putting trade with our biggest customer at risk.” – Rick Jeffery, President & CEO of Coast Forest Products Association.
- Both forestry groups also expressed alarm today at the NDP’s plan to rip up the Softwood Lumber Agreement.
- “In these very difficult markets it (the Softwood Lumber Agreement) has eliminated the risk of countervail and anti dumping trade remedies being used against BC workers and communities. Without that protection, B.C. would be exposed to the politically motivated action of the US Forest Industry. We should all be working to support the Agreement and not put it at risk.” – John Allan.
It is clear from these groups’ concerns that if elected the NDP’s plan would devastate the forest industry. And it’s not just the forest industry that is at risk. More than half of all of B.C.’s exports are shipped to the U.S. The NDP’s plan to rip up a key trade agreement and provoke a trade war with our largest trading partner would cripple B.C.’s entire economy. That is simply reckless, incompetent and just plain bad economic policy.
