More Than Wood. It’s Our Heritage.
Family-owned mills in British Columbia are being crushed by unfair tariffs meant for someone else. We are unintended victims in a fight that isn't ours.
The Unfair Tariff Crisis
Independent processors in British Columbia communities are caught in a trade dispute that doesn't apply to them.
Caught in the Crossfire
We are independent manufacturers. We buy lumber on the open market. We have No Crown Tenure. Yet, we pay the price for a dispute we didn't start.
Total Tariff Burden on Independent Mills.
Tariff on lumber purchase when we buy raw materials
+
Tariff on finished products when we sell
The Real Cost
Tariffs hurt independent mills like ours who are not subsidized.
Family Businesses
Multi-generational mills operating for 50+ years are now threatened with closure.
Local Jobs
Skilled workers and their families depend on these mills for stable, well-paying employment.
Community Support
These mills sponsor hockey rinks, support local schools, and invest in BC communities.
Multi-Generational Craftsmanship
This is more than just business—it's our British Columbia heritage.
A Legacy Built on Skill and Pride
Some of our mills have been family-owned since the 1950s. Craftspeople have spent their entire careers mastering their trade, creating premium wood products that are shipped around the world.
These aren't industrial operations chasing quarterly earnings. They're family-run businesses where owners work alongside their teams, where quality matters more than quick profits, and where success is measured in generations, not quarters.
We are not subsidized and buy lumber on the open market.
We're not part of large multinational corporations. We belong to families in our communities.
We employ skilled craftspeople and support regional communities.
We produce high-quality lumber and finished wood products.
Why This Is About All of Us
The tariff crisis extends beyond mills—it affects the economies of British Columbia's communities.
Jobs & Families
These mills employ hundreds of skilled workers who support families, pay mortgages, and contribute to their communities. When mills struggle, entire communities feel the impact.
Collateral Damage
We're unintended victims caught in a trade dispute between governments. We are not subsidized. We purchase our wood on the open market.
Not About Politics
This isn't a political issue—it's about fairness. Our mills compete on quality and service, not subsidies. We're not the problem the tariffs are meant to solve.
Heritage at Risk
Generations of knowledge, skills, and investment in British Columbia communities could disappear if these tariffs force mills to close or relocate.
The Truth About the Tariffs
Clearing up the confusion about the softwood lumber dispute.
Why are independent mills paying tariffs if they don't have Crown Tenure?
This is the core injustice. The US applies a "one-size-fits-all" tariff to Canadian lumber. Even though we buy our wood on the open market at fair market prices (just like US mills do), we are swept up in this bilateral trade dispute.
What is the 'Double Tax'?
We are taxed twice. First, we pay the market price for raw lumber, which already includes the cost of tariffs. Then, we process that wood into high-value products like siding or decking. The US then applies the 45% tariff again on the final sales price.
How does this affect BC jobs?
IWPA members employ over 3,800 people directly in BC. When tariffs make our products 45% more expensive, we lose US customers. This forces mills to cut shifts or close down, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of families in British Columbia.
Can't you just sell to other countries?
While we try to diversify, the US is our natural neighbour and largest market for high-quality building materials. Re-orienting supply chains takes decades, but these tariffs are hurting us now.
Tell Ottawa:
Protect Our Heritage.
Stop the Double Tax.
Independent processors are being unfairly punished.
These tariffs are unfair, unnecessary, and damaging to our communities and families.
Send a letter to your MP and the Minister of International Trade today.
#StopUnfairTariffs #IWPA
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