Forest critic Stamer calls for tax on thermal coal in response to softwood lumber duties

Mar 3, 2025 | 4:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced plans to almost triple the anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber.

The increase to just over 20 per cent, brings the total levies against Canadian lumber to 27 per cent, and that is before the possibility of 25 per cent tariffs being imposed by Washington on Tuesday (Mar. 4).

“It’s going to be devastating for our industry if we can’t come up with some cost saving methods to be able to not only be more competitive but also trading with our largest partner when it comes to our softwood lumber agreement. And let’s face it, it’s been sitting on the books since 2015 and the feds and the provincial government haven’t been doing anything about it,” said Kamloops-North Thompson MLA and Forest Critic Ward Stamer.

Canada and the U.S. have not had a softwood lumber deal in place since 2015. While many cards have already been played in the longstanding dispute, Stamer believes B.C. needs to place a carbon tax on coal as a response.

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“Our party proposed a carbon tax on U.S. thermal coal through our ports last Monday, and really what we should be doing — whatever they are charging us in duties, we should be charging them back with a carbon tax. If it is going to be 20.07 (per cent) or if it is going to be even higher than that, we should be putting those taxes on today,” added Stamer.

The BC Conservatives asked for an update from the premier on their carbon tax proposal during Monday’s question period in the legislature, but they received no concrete answer.

by Michael Reeve

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Forest critic Stamer calls for tax on thermal coal in response to softwood lumber duties

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