B.C.’s premier-designate talks with Trudeau, plans Ottawa summer visit
VICTORIA — British Columbia premier-designate John Horgan said he spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday about the softwood trade dispute with the United States and he is planning meetings in Ottawa and Washington, D.C.
Horgan, who will head a minority NDP government, said he expected the meeting with Trudeau will happen before the recall of B.C.’s legislature, now expected shortly after Labour Day.
“We talked about housing,” he said. “We talked about transit. We talked about fentanyl and softwood. Nothing’s more important in a forest-dependent community than getting a deal for softwood lumber. I want to help his team get a positive result for B.C.”
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced in April preliminary countervailing duties against five Canadian companies ranging between three and 24 per cent, with other producers facing a tariff of 19.88 per cent.