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FPAC calls for federal action to end B.C. port strike

The British Columbia port strike which began on July 1, is yet to be resolved. The ongoing strike is affecting different sectors of the economy, including forestry. The Canadian forest sector has consequently called for federal action to end the strike.

On July 19, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) president and CEO, Derek Nighbor, issued the following statement.

“FPAC’s members include manufacturers of wood, pulp and paper, and forest bioproducts that made up over 17 percent of all outbound cargo shipments through the Port of Vancouver in 2022. With huge volumes of forest products flowing through these facilities daily, BC ports are considered critical infrastructure by the sector. As such – the impacts are immediately felt, and have already resulted in mill shutdowns and curtailments, layoffs, and tens of millions of dollars in lost or disrupted sales. What’s more, the ripple effect of a disruption at such a central cog in the supply chain will harm all Canadians through inflationary impacts and product shortages – not just those who depend on a functioning supply chain to sustain their employment.

At a time when affordability issues are uppermost in the minds of Canadians, protracted disruptions to our critical supply chains cannot be tolerated. FPAC calls on the federal government to end this work stoppage immediately.”