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Unifor’s Forestry Council Executive Committee members met this week at the national office and were joined by National leadership to discuss the ongoing tariff threat to Canadian forestry, pulp and paper and lumber members.
The seven members of the Forestry Executive, with representatives from across Canada, met in Toronto on March 25 to consider the latest developments in the ongoing trade war and the softwood lumber dispute, both of which represent existential threats to forestry workers and communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
“This was an opportunity to hear what our members are saying from across the country,” said Forestry Council Executive Chairperson and Unifor Local 233 President Stéphane Lefebvre.
“With the threats coming to our sector, it’s important to talk about a game plan to protect the longevity of forestry and pulp and paper.”
The focus remains building a more resilient economy, starting with the forestry industry, said Unifor National President Lana Payne. Canada is in an affordable housing crisis and Unifor members can help the effort to build new homes. Unifor will continue to fight hard to defend our jobs, coming out stronger on the other side, she insisted.
"[Trump] believes he doesn’t need lumber, and he doesn’t need any of our other products either," Payne in her remarks. "It’s no longer an assault on just the lumber industry; it’s an assault on all the forestry industry.”
Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier told the Forestry Council the industry needs to find creative ways in crisis to keep thriving, such as constructing houses for export, while reducing our carbon footprint.
“The density of fiber is stronger, we’re living in a cold country, so our woods are better for construction,” said Cloutier. “We need to develop these advantages and be ready to construct modular houses that can be exported.”
Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi said members can exercise their power and fight against this tariff war by taking action in the upcoming federal election.
“We need to focus our efforts and really mobilize around the sector,” she said. “With the Ontario Regional Council, you have our support, 100%.”
In his remarks, Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle said he’s been part of several discussions with companies and industry councils about how to retaliate to tariffs and keep afloat in the short-term, but the key is creating a long-term future for forestry.
“Governments, both federally and provincially, are far too timid for the responses that are needed,” he said.
“In the last few weeks, we’ve been talking about any kind of measures that will keep people working, that will keep mills operating and keep jobs going while we deal with this trade war.”
Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray said in New Brunswick members and leadership have been talking about the challenges to energy costs and fighting with the government to reduce the costs to keep paper mills running.
“It’s not easy when our own members are struggling to pay their own power bills when there’s economic uncertainty,” said Murray.
“We have all kinds of forestry workplaces that really need support right now, so we approached the government with an industrial strategy that would benefit everyone.”
The leadership group received an update on the recent breakthrough settlement in the Western Pulp and Paper pattern achieved at the Kruger Kamloops mill, heard regional updates from Unifor workplaces, and discussed plans for the upcoming Forestry Sector Council Meeting at the upcoming Unifor National Convention in August in Vancouver, B.C.
Unifor continues to work to keep the forestry sector sustainable and healthy by defending and protecting jobs in its Fight for Forestry campaign and asked committee members to get involved. Members can also keep informed by visiting the Protect Canadian Jobs campaign website.
See photos of the Forestry Council Executive Committee meeting here
