08/18/2026
𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄
𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐒 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐚 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫
𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐍𝐒 – 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 - This week’s impending tariffs on Canadian value-added pine products, expected to take effect tomorrow (Wednesday), have already had a significant negative impact on western Nova Scotia.
The loss of a viable market for pine products, combined with no market for low-grade fibre, will devastate an already troubled forestry sector. The loss of U.S. pine exports from western NS represents a $20-$30 million annual reduction in economic activity and the loss of hundreds of jobs in communities like Weymouth, Chester and Greenfield. The tariff threat is already impacting sales and jobs at Lewis Mouldings, Freeman Lumber & Millett Lumber as well as lost land values for woodlot owners throughout western Nova Scotia.
Job impacts will also be felt in local family-owned harvesting and trucking companies. The collapse of the NS pine market will lead to a reduction in all harvesting as not having a home for 30 percent of the forest will make many woodlots uneconomical to harvest. This will devastate wood lot owners, undermine the implementation of ecological forestry and increase forest fire risks as less area is managed.
The Nova Scotia forestry sector is demanding the Canadian government step up and take immediate action to safeguard the Canadian domestic pine market. This means immediately implementing a significant import duty on any CUSMA-compliant wood products originating from outside the CUSMA region.
“If the US is going to protect their turf, we need the Canadian government to protect Canada,” said Breck Stuart, General Manager, WestFor Management Inc.
“We can’t continue to suffer the repercussions of the US tariffs while allowing international companies to dump below market price wood products into Canada displacing Canadian suppliers,” added Charlie Freeman, Owner and CEO, Freeman Lumber.
“If we are going to diversify away from the US market, we must be sure we are competing on an even playing field here at home,” said Jamie Lewis, Owner, Lewis Mouldings.
The Canadian government needs to focus on Canadian jobs and the Canadian forestry market. Currently, international competitors have unlimited access to the Canadian market, dumping products at prices far below fair market value. Canadian made products simply can not compete here at home. Canadian jobs will only be secured if the Canadian government immediately imposes tariffs on cheap lumber and lumber products coming into Canada.
Nova Scotia’s forestry sector urges all involved in forestry to contact the federal and provincial government representatives and urge action to mitigate the unfair impact on a sector.
Call your local MP and the Premier and demand changes to protect jobs in Nova Scotia.
Kody Blois, MP Kings-Hants
902-542-4010
[email protected]
Chris d’Entremont, MPAcadia-Annapolis
902-742-6808
[email protected]
Breadon Clark, MP Sackville-Bedford-Preston
902-861-2333
[email protected]
Lena Metlege Diad, MP Halifax West
902-426-2217
[email protected]
Jessica Fancy, MP South Shore-St. Margarets
902-527-5680
[email protected]
Darren Fisher, MP Dartmouth-Cole Harbour
902-462-6453
[email protected]
Sean Fraser, MP Central Nova
902-752-0226
[email protected]
Alana Hirtle, MP Cumberland-Colchester
902-895-2882
[email protected]
Mike Kelloway, MP Sydney-Glace Bay
902-539-0525
[email protected]
Shannon Miedema, MP Halifax
902-426-8633
[email protected]
Jaime Battiste, MP Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish
902-567-6275
[email protected]
Nova Scotia Premier
Tim Houston, Premier of NS
902-424-6600
[email protected]
