“They don’t want EI, they want their jobs back.”
That’s the sentiment from Northern B.C. Conservative MP’s Todd Doherty and Bob Zimmer following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement to provide 500-million each in funding towards a loan program for softwood lumber businesses as well assisting lumber firms facing liquidity pressures.
Cariboo-PG MP Todd Doherty told Vista Radio the funding is a case of too little, too late and that he has two major concerns with the funding announcement.
“Will the US file another countersuit against us because they might feel its an unfair advantage or that the government is propping up or subsidizing our forestry companies by providing this funding mechanism. You have to think about that.”
“What happens when the money runs out?”
Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP, Bob Zimmer added the reeling industry has taken a back seat for far too long pointing the finger at both Victoria and Ottawa.
“Since 2016, they have lost 30 mills, 10-thousand direct jobs and three to five times the indirect jobs. We need a provincial and federal government that really takes this seriously.”
Zimmer added Prime Minister Carney needs to find a way to negotiate a softwood lumber agreement with American President Donald Trump. Something that has been missing between the two countries since 2016.
“He should be negotiating a softwood lumber agreement as we speak. We see different deals getting done around uranium and we are getting nothing for the trade. I would expect this prime minister to be on the phone even today asking how he can workout a softwood lumber deal with the president.”
“When you talk about supporting the industry by providing loans that isn’t something we really need in getting a softwood lumber agreement and changing the direction around. Often, Mark Carney will mention other commodities but he won’t mention softwood. It’s been 10 years since the previous Liberal government. When we check to see if it’s up for discussion it is not even on the minister’s agenda.”
The Cariboo region has been rocked hard with the announcement of two mills closures this month. West Fraser is shuttering its 100 Mile House sawmill while Drax will be ceasing operations at its Williams Lake pellet plant.
Doherty stated says closures like the West Fraser sawmill in 100 Mile House will only worsen the local economy.
“The closure of that one plant, that is a million dollars from that municipal tax base. On a budget of three million dollars, that is 30% of the municipal tax base that is gone.”
“Our workers don’t want charity, they don’t want a hand out. They want their jobs back and I think that is something that needs to be done and the enhancements are welcome at this point but it remains to be seen how quickly it can truly make a difference.”
“When you are talking about that single worker that has lost a job it effects their family that they support. You think about the region and how that impacts the grocery stores and how that impacts the car dealerships, it’s far reaching. When there are no jobs in our communities these families are forced to move and when we move them from our region, we are less likely to get them back,” added Doherty.
Both closures will put a combined 200 workers out of a job.
In April, West Fraser’s Williams Lake sawmill began operating on a four-day per week schedule.
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