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Letter: U.S. tariffs on pulp industry unfair

MP slams Prime Minister for failing to secure new agreement with U.S.
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THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Editor,

It is extremely disappointing that the current U.S. administration has, once again, made the decision to impose unfair tariffs, this time on Canada’s pulpwood industry.

The forest industry is the economic backbone for many B.C. communities; there are approximately 21 pulp and paper operations throughout the province, employing tens of thousands of B.C. residents. B.C.’s forest industry employs hundreds of thousands of B.C. residents and contributes billions to the B.C. economy. These tariffs will have a crippling impact on the communities throughout our riding of Cariboo-Prince George and our province.

They come at a time when our rural communities, which depend on our forestry industry, are facing more and more uncertainty in the wake of the 2017 wildfire season.

Unfortunately, on the softwood file Canadians have seen from the very beginning that Justin Trudeau has failed to secure a new agreement.

Yesterday’s announcement is yet another example of his inability to get the job done when it matters the most.

Budget 2018 contained no new policies that will help Canadian workers deal with U.S. protectionist policies and trade disruptions.

It’s unacceptable that Justin Trudeau unveiled a federal budget that does not contain a contingency plan if NAFTA is terminated, or promote policies that make Canada a more attractive place to invest and do business.

We will continue to fight for hardworking families and the communities that will be severely impacted by these crippling tariffs.

Todd Doherty,

MP for Cariboo-Prince George