06/13/2017 (2) The City of Niagara Falls, Ontario
Resolution
June 13, 2017
Moved by: Councillor Morocco
Seconded by: Councillor Campbell
WHEREAS Canada's forestry industry is vital to our economy; hundreds of thousands of
workers and more than 650 communities depend on good forestry jobs, including lumber; and
WHEREAS although Canada's softwood lumber is a key resource for the U.S. economy and
housing industry, the imposition of U.S. duties on Canada's exports deals a serious blow to in-
forest harvesting and domestic wood, pulp and paper production, along with the jobs associated
with it; if past disputes are any indication, tens of thousands of ourjobs are at risk; and
WHEREAS previous dispute resolution panels have rejected U.S. claims of unfair trade
practices on Canadian softwood lumber, consistently ruling in Canada's favour; this suggests
that any imposition of countervailing or anti-dumping duties by the U.S. Department of
Commerce is discriminatory and groundless; and
WHEREAS all national stakeholders, including municipalities, must speak out in defence of
Canada's forestry industry — the nation's third largest export sector — as well as forest-
dependent communities and affected workers in the face of another damaging trade dispute.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Niagara Falls City Council urges the federal government
to negotiate a new softwood lumber agreement with the United States that guarantees access
to the U.S. market for Canada's softwood lumber exports and that retains the right of Quebec
and all Canadian provinces to manage forest lands.
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that Niagara Falls City Council calls on the Minister of Natural
Resources to act immediately in mitigating the impact of U.S.-imposed softwood lumber duties
by providing emergency loan guarantees to assist affected facilities, and to ensure adequate
supports are provided to affected communities and workers, including enhanced income and
transition supports as well as special Employment Insurance provisions, extended benefit
periods and retraining supports for advanced technologies in the forestry industry.
FINALLY, BE IT RESOLVED that Niagara Falls City Council call on the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities to re-establish its Softwood Lumber Taskforce responsible for coordinating a
response among municipal councils in Canada and a comprehensive campaign strategy,
bringing attention to this issue among our US. Municipal counterparts.
Carried Unanimously
AND The Seal of the Corporation be hereto affixed.
BILL MATSON JAMES M. DIODATI
ACTING CITY CLERK MAYOR
i
i