Unifor members held a rally at the Irving Pulp and Paper Mill to encourage the federal government to reach a softwood lumber deal with the US before any more jobs are lost.
More tariffs are expected to be imposed this week and Pulp and Paper Mill CEO Jim Irving says it could be five percent, 10 percent or even higher.
Irving says “we’re not the problem” and adds that the value of trees in the Maritimes is the highest in Canada.
Unifor Atlantic Region Chair Ian Hutchison says cutting back production on the Canadian side will only increase the costs in the United States.
He says building a house in the states six months from now could cost 10-15 percent more for lumber.
Unifor Atlantic Region Chair Ian Hutchison estimates 500 people showed up for the rally at JDI Pulp & Paper Mill #SaintJohn #Sjnews pic.twitter.com/anSFgg3Oe6
— Matt Mabee (@mattmabee7) June 19, 2017
Unifor Atlantic Director Lana Payne says the forest sector has recently had a new lease on life with investments and mills that were closed re-opening.
Payne says the trouble we’re having with the softwood lumber deal could change all of that for many communities and a lot of workers.
Atlantic Director of Unifor Lana Payne leads a chant to rally the federal government to reach a softwood lumber deal with the US #SaintJohn pic.twitter.com/W0nPfzi34u
— Matt Mabee (@mattmabee7) June 19, 2017
