Ottawa has once again left British Columbia's forestry industry out of the picture — and Premier David Eby is not happy about it.
According to a column by political reporter Rob Shaw published in Business in Vancouver, the B.C. premier was caught off guard after the federal government moved to sideline B.C. lumber in its latest trade positioning with Washington. It's not the first time Eby has found himself learning about a major federal decision affecting his province after the fact, and the pattern is drawing sharp criticism from B.C. officials and the forestry sector.
A High-Stakes File for Canadian Lumber
Canadian softwood lumber has been locked in a decades-long trade dispute with the United States, with American producers pushing for — and often winning — steep tariffs on B.C. and other Canadian wood products. The dispute has cost Canadian producers billions of dollars and remains one of the most persistent irritants in the Canada-U.S. trade relationship.
With the return of a protectionist U.S. trade posture in 2025 and a federal election now behind Canada, the Carney government has been under pressure to secure exemptions or favourable treatment for Canadian exports. Lumber, however, appears to have been deprioritized in those negotiations — a decision that carries significant consequences for B.C., where the forestry industry is a major employer and economic driver.
Eby and Ottawa Out of Sync
Shaw's reporting suggests the breakdown isn't just about policy — it's about process. Eby has repeatedly found himself learning about federal moves on B.C. files through the news cycle rather than direct consultation, a dynamic that points to strained federal-provincial communication on resource issues.
For Ottawa watchers, this pattern reflects broader tension between a federal government trying to manage a complex, multi-front trade war and provinces that feel their specific economic interests aren't being elevated at the table. B.C.'s forestry towns and mill workers depend heavily on U.S. market access, making any federal trade concession or omission in this space deeply consequential.
What It Means Going Forward
With federal-provincial relations on trade under the microscope and the Carney government still establishing its footing, the lumber file could become a flashpoint. Eby has been vocal in demanding Ottawa stand up for B.C.'s economic interests, and the latest episode is likely to add fuel to that ongoing pressure campaign.
For Ottawans, the story is a reminder that the decisions made in the capital reverberate far beyond the Queensway — shaping livelihoods, communities, and Canada's relationship with its biggest trading partner for years to come.
Source: Rob Shaw, Business in Vancouver, via Google News Ottawa RSS feed.
