The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) today responded to Prime Minister Carney’s announcement of new federal measures aimed at addressing the needs of the Canadian forest sector and its employees as it deals with ongoing U.S. duties and tariffs.
“For nearly a decade, our sector has been carrying the weight of unfair and punitive U.S. duties,” said FPAC President and CEO, Derek Nighbor. “Our businesses, employees and contractors, and most of Canada’s over 300 forest-dependent communities are feeling the strain. Today’s announcement is a clear response to the urgency of the situation,” Nighbor added.
Nighbor noted that while today’s announcement reflects progress, the effectiveness of any financial programming will depend heavily on how quickly and effectively it reaches businesses and employees on the ground.
“We have been clear that delivering measures quickly in a way that makes a difference requires careful structure and good execution,” Nighbor said. “If the tools aren’t meeting the needs on the ground, it will all be for nothing. We will continue to work with the Prime Minister and his team to ensure this next wave of measures hits the mark,” Nighbor added.
Nighbor also emphasized that financial measures alone will not resolve the core challenge posed by the long-running softwood lumber dispute.
“We can’t lose sight of the bigger picture,” he added. “Financial programs are important, but they are for the short-term so we can weather the storm. As we lean into the things we can control - building more with Canadian wood here at home, finding ways to reduce costs and improve competitiveness while upholding high environmental standards, and growing other international markets - our top priority remains having the federal government achieve a negotiated deal with the United States that works on both sides of the border,” Nighbor said.
FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. As an industry, we contributed $21 B in real GDP in 2024. Canada's forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers—providing 200,000 direct jobs and operating in hundreds of communities across the country. Our members are committed to collaborating with Indigenous leaders, government bodies, and other key stakeholders to develop a cross-Canada action plan aimed at advancing forest health, while supporting workers, communities and our environment for the long term.
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