Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is preparing financial supports for the forestry sector as the United States ratchets up duties on Canadian softwood lumber.
Carney is promising an aid package for the industry that includes $700 million in loan guarantees and $500 million for long-term supports to help companies diversify export markets and develop their products.
The prime minister outlined a series of supports at a lumber mill in West Kelowna, B.C., on Tuesday, saying Canada will be its own best customer by relying on more Canadian timber as it works to double the pace of new home building to almost 500,000 homes a year over the next decade.
Carney also said the government will launch a build-Canada homes program this fall that gets Canada back in the business of building affordable homes, using Canadian technology, workers and lumber.
He said the government will introduce a training program as well for “up-skilling and re-skilling” workers, which will include $50 million for those in the forestry sector.
Here are some scenes from his visit in West Kelowna.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2025.
The Canadian Press
