“As U.S. tariffs threaten B.C.’s forestry sector, Premier David Eby calls for national unity—and urgent federal action—to defend Canadian lumber and unlock domestic potential.”
B.C. Premier Meets Prime Minister to Tackle Tariffs, Housing, and Economic Bottlenecks
In a high-stakes meeting in Victoria, British Columbia Premier David Eby sat down with Prime Minister Mark Carney to sound the alarm over growing threats to B.C.’s forestry sector. At the centre of the conversation? Soaring U.S. tariffs on softwood lumber and the urgent need to protect Canadian industry and jobs.
The meeting came just days after the U.S. Department of Commerce announced plans to more than double softwood duties to 34.5%, sparking renewed concerns across the country.
From Trade Crisis to Domestic Opportunity
Eby described the meeting as “productive,” and said the focus was on turning crisis into opportunity. That includes using B.C.-produced mass timber to meet Canada’s surging demand for affordable housing.
“The American president’s renewed assault on our forestry sector needs the same Team Canada response we’ve seen for Ontario and Quebec’s auto industries,”
Eby said.
“We must meet growing demand for value-added wood products—at home and abroad.”
Eby emphasized B.C.’s full support for a national response and called on other provinces to unite behind the cause.
Carney Responds: “We’re Going to Fight, Protect, and Build”
While Carney hasn’t released an official statement on the meeting, he previously told reporters the new U.S. tariffs are “wholly unjustified” and reiterated the federal government’s commitment to defend Canadian jobs in the forestry sector.
“This is another unjustified tariff. You can expect us to fight against it,”
Carney said in Victoria.
He also pitched the Liberals’ housing pledge—building 500,000 homes a year—as an opportunity to leverage Canada’s lumber industry, particularly B.C.’s strength in modular construction and mass timber.
Lumber Council and NDP Sound the Alarm
The BC Lumber Trade Council slammed the U.S. decision, calling the tariffs “unjustified and harmful.” President Kurt Niquidet argued that B.C.’s timber system is open, transparent, and based on competitive auctions—not subsidies.
“Commerce continues to use flawed methodologies,”
the Council said in a statement.
“These rates will hurt workers on both sides of the border and raise housing prices for Americans.”
On the political front, federal NDP candidates from Vancouver Island—where many communities rely on forestry jobs—also raised concerns.
“The forest industry is already hurting. This hike in tariffs could be crippling,”
said NDP MP Gord Johns.
“Now is the time to build homes, bridges, and hospitals—and to do it with Canadian lumber and steel.”
Looking Ahead: More Than Just Tariffs at Stake
Beyond trade, Eby says the province needs a federal partner willing to invest in infrastructure, address transportation chokepoints, and expand skilled trades training—regardless of who wins the upcoming election.
As Ottawa and Victoria align on a “Team Canada” response, the outcome of this crisis could redefine Canada’s approach to resource diplomacy, economic sovereignty, and the future of sustainable construction.
Maple News Wire will continue to track this developing story—from policy pledges to trade negotiations—at the intersection of forestry, housing, and federal leadership.
