Cabinet’s Bennett says fair deal number one priority for Liberals

Kootenay-Columbia MP Wayne Stetski called on the B.C. Liberal government last week to ensure that B.C.’s forest industry is protected after the expiry of the Softwood Lumber Agreement with the United States.

“We are calling for loan guarantees for softwood producers that would help provide certainty to the tens of thousands of forestry works in British Columbia,” Stetski said, adding he and the 13 other New Democrat MPs from British Columbia are concerned that the Liberal government does not have a Plan B in place in case the United States brings duties against Canadian products, they are calling for federal loan guarantees for softwood lumber producers.

“During the last softwood dispute we saw a lot of damage done by American duties all across our region,” Stetski said. “We don’t want to see this repeated. I have been speaking with family run mills in our area, and there is a lot of concern. This government says they are working for the middle class, so I am asking them to take steps to protect these community-sustaining middle class jobs.”

Last week the provinces of Ontario and Quebec both called on the federal government for loan guarantees to protect softwood lumber producers and jobs in forestry communities when the U.S. imposes new duties.

Kootenay East MLA and B.C. Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett said he believes his government and the federal government is doing a good job thus far in the proceedings.

“Cabinet met last week with the Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. plus our recently appointed B.C. representative David Emerson, who negotiated the last Softwood Agreement on behalf of Canada and the provinces. The federal government also had a senior rep from the PM’s office in our meeting. I tell you this because it is important for people to know that getting a fair deal with the U.S. is job number one for us and I am impressed with the focus the federal government is also putting on an agreement,” Bennett told e-KNOW.

“So while a third party rep like Mr. Stetski can speculate about how to spend taxpayers’ money, what is important is that B.C. and Canada bear down and get a fair deal to secure jobs in the forest industry,” he concluded.

Lead image: Kootenay-Columbia MP Wayne Stetski addresses the crowd during Rogers Home Town Hockey celebrations in downtown Cranbrook Feb. 19, as Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett, right, and Rogers host Tara Sloan listen. Carrie Schafer/e-KNOW photo

e-KNOW

Article Share