Industry and unions worried about the current forest context

In Sacré-Coeur, the Boisaco sawmill continues its operations despite the threat of American customs prices and tensions linked to the reform of the forest regime. For their part, the unions of all workers in the forest sector demand the creation of a crisis unit to respond to concerns.

“A cry of the heart”

It is sure that we have realities perhaps a little different, but the reality of the markets can be an important element anywayrecognized the president of the Boisaco sawmill, Steeve St-Gelais, in an interview on the program Hello coast. He said that the Boisaco group’s objective is to support all of its companies through the economic slowdown caused by the uncertainty present in the sector.

All workers in the forest sector do not deserve to be in this situation.

He notices a will in the reform project to help the forest sector, but believes that current tensions underline the lack of discussions between the parties. The president of the company explained that it is important that the communities concerned, including the indigenous communities, establish together, with manufacturers, avenues for solution acceptable to all.

Steeve St-Gelais remains optimistic and positive: he underlines that an open spirit is essential to be able to advance in the right direction. Even if the context remains difficult, he maintains that, for the moment, the Sacré-C sawmillœUR will remain open.

A good part of the timber sold by Boisaco is intended for a Canadian market, which makes the company more resilient in the face of American threats of 34.45 % prices on Canadian lumber, notes Steeve St-Gelais.

The demand for a crisis cell

Several factors harm the current economic context of the forest industry, whose American rates, underlined the head of the forest sector of the Metallos Syndicate, Alexandre Fréchette, in an interview on the program Hello coast. The union official explained that, to move forward, the forest industry must innovate and diversify.

The reform of the forest regime is challenged by almost everyone.

Last week, all workers’ unions in the forest sector asked by press release from the Quebec government to create a work unit. The mandate of this unit would in particular be to rebuild confidence with the project to reform the forest regime.

The unions also ask Quebec to rebuild the relationship with First Nations, as well as find ways to reduce the incidence of the possible increase in American customs prices in the forest sector.

Indeed that there are the [blocages] Aboriginal in certain regions; […] These are issues that have been raised, that we saw coming and that occurredindicates Alexandre Fréchette. He adds that it is essential to establish a real dialogue with indigenous peoples.