MONTREAL – Unions representing forestry workers in Quebec have welcomed the federal government’s announced measures to support the industry and, crucially, they are urging the Quebec government to follow suit quickly.
“Quebec and Ottawa must urgently work together to support the forestry industry and, above all, implement an industrial strategy for increased wood processing, market diversification and the systematic use of Quebec wood in construction projects,” reads a joint statement from the leaders of four unions representing forestry workers across Quebec.
The joint statement was issued by Daniel Cloutier, Quebec Director of Unifor; Nicolas Lapierre, Quebec Director of the United Steelworkers/Syndicat des Métallos; Kevin Gagnon of the Fédération de l’industrie manufacturière (FIM-CSN); and Luc Vachon of the Centrale des syndicats démocratiques (CSD).
The forestry industry has been hard hit by widespread and longstanding pressures that pre-date the Trump administration, the union leaders say.
“Our sector requires a vision for the future, a specific industrial strategy which we do not currently see in the proposed reform of the forestry regime. We believe the federal announcement is a step in the right direction, and we are asking Quebec to urgently lend its support to increase efforts to transform this industry, which is crucial to our regions,” the leaders say in their statement.
The Trump administration’s decision to increase anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports to 20.56% will bring the combined total of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Canadian lumber to 35%, as early as Aug. 8. Processed wood products exported to the U.S. are not currently subject to these duties, however.
Bill 97, the Quebec government’s legislation on forestry reform that is currently under review by the National Assembly, does not include any specific industrial strategy for the industry’s future. Furthermore, the bill has been heavily criticized by workers and unions, other forestry stakeholders, environmental groups and Indigenous communities.
“Quebec must develop a vision for the future, in consultation with all stakeholders in the forestry sector, that will ensure the industry’s future and maximize economic and social benefits to our society. Our forest products are just waiting to be used on a large scale for the construction of desperately needed housing,” the forestry union leaders assert in their joint statement.
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