The fallout from punishing tariffs and duties on B.C.’s softwood exports into the United States continues this week, with the family-owned Sinclar Group Forest Products announcing Thursday it will be scaling back operations by 40 per cent at three of its sawmills — equivalent, the company says, to shutting down one mill entirely.
Approximately 350 sawmill workers will see their work hours reduced by 40 per cent at Lakeland Mills in Prince George, Apollo Forest Products in Fort St. James and Nechako Lumber Co. in Vanderhoof starting Oct. 27.
“The decision to curtail operations deeply affects our employees, their families, and the communities we serve,” Sinclar Group president Greg Stewart said in a news release.
“The challenges facing the forest industry in British Columbia are significant and compounding. We must take action to sustain our operations.”
Stewart said the combination of “an unsustainable provincial policy landscape and persistent uncertainty around fibre supply,” alongside tariffs and duties placed on Canadian forest products entering the United States, has forced the decision.
It’s just the latest in a series of cuts and closures at mills and forestry companies around B.C.
U.S. tariffs and duties on Canadian softwood rose to 45 per cent on Oct. 14, a devastating number for an industry already on the ropes.
In a statement following Thursday’s announcement, the B.C. Council of Forest Industries called on the federal government to prioritize solving the trade dispute with the United States, and on the province to stabilize the industry.
“Forestry supports tens of thousands of good jobs, generates billions in economic activity, and underpins reconciliation and rural stability,” the statement read.
"Every day without progress means more families, workers, and communities are put at risk. "
B.C. Premier David Eby has demanded federal funding to help keep forestry workers afloat during what he describes as an “attack” on the industry, while Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised $1.2 billion in support for softwood producers, though it is unclear when the money will be available.