Gallant wants more action to negotiate a softwood lumber agreement with the US

The Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MP is concerned the government is not doing enough to protect forestry jobs in Canada.

This comes as the United States has decided to increase its duty on Canadian softwood lumber by over six per cent since April, to almost 27 per cent. MP Cheryl Gallant says this move will cost Canadian lumber producers $1.7-billion, and mean up to 2,200 lost jobs.

The federal government has recently struck down a softwood lumber agreement with the US, claiming a better deal could be reached. Gallant is calling on the government to make negotiating a new agreement a priority in order to protect communities that rely on the industry.