Kamloops Thompson Cariboo Conservative MP Cathy McLeod holds government to account on BC forestry crisis
Ottawa: Cathy McLeod, Official Opposition
Shadow Minister for Natural Resources, during today’s first Question Period
asked the government about their plan to get forestry workers in British
Columbia back to work.
Mr.
Speaker, the B.C. forestry industry is in crisis. Thousands have been laid off
and more job loss is expected before the holidays. The Speech from the Throne
yesterday failed to mention that the Liberals will not even acknowledge a
crisis exists. The government failed to negotiate a softwood lumber agreement,
and the Prime Minister's antics at NATO may have destroyed any opportunity to
get a deal done. What is their plan to get forestry workers in B.C. back to
work?
“The Prime Minister (Justin Trudeau) didn’t give
the courtesy of a response and left it to the Deputy Prime Minister, who
struggled through an answer to my question,” said McLeod. “They have
proven once again to fail forestry workers. There was no mention of immediate
action or a detailed plan, with concrete deadlines.”
“Three years ago, the government heralded a real
breakthrough on softwood lumber with the previous U.S. administration. Yet here
we are today facing another softwood lumber crisis and the government’s silence
is deafening,” said McLeod.
“In the coming weeks I will be calling on the government
to prioritize the negotiation of a new softwood lumber agreement in order to
prevent more job losses in this key sector.
In addition, they must immediately develop an action plan to support
industry, workers and communities”.
“The forestry sector in Canada employed close to 209,900
people and generated roughly $24.6 billion of economic activity in 2017. It is a vital sector that requires urgent
attention,” concluded McLeod.
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