Carpenters' District Council of Ontario Welcomes Rapid Relief Efforts on Drywall Tariff Reductions and Support for Fort McMurray Families

VAUGHAN, ON, March 3, 2017 /CNW/ - The Carpenters' District Council of Ontario ("CDC") commends the Government of Canada and Minister Morneau for moving quickly to address the issues regarding drywall tariffs by lowering the tariff by 30 percent for Weston Canada.

The CDC is also pleased to see that the government will also direct $12 million in anti-dumping duties collected between September 2016 and January 2017 towards a grant for Fort McMurray residents who are rebuilding after the May 2016 wildfire.

"A 30 percent reduction in drywall tariffs will help begin to stabilize the supply of drywall in our industry," said Tony Iannuzzi, Executive Secretary Treasurer of CDC. "We commend the Federal Government's quick work to review and address the tariff situation on drywall."

After Fort McMurray was devastated by wildfires in May 2016, the community faced the drastic challenge of rebuilding itself from the ground up. This financial support for contractors already affected by the high tariffs, will increase supply and support the rebuilding of Fort McMurray.

CDC applauds the federal government's efforts to start to rebalance the tariff issue. CDC will continue to work with the Government to find ways to support construction across the country, including through ongoing negotiations of equitable tariffs on construction materials.  

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) ruled in January that while U.S. firms had dumped drywall at cut-rate prices in Canada over the past few years, maintaining duties at current levels would not be in the country's best interests.

About the Carpenters' District Council of Ontario
The Carpenters' District Council of Ontario is comprised of 16 affiliated Local Unions of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners across the province. In total, we represent over 26,000 women and men working in a wide range of areas, including carpentry, drywall, resilient flooring, concrete formwork, underwater construction, welding, scaffolding, and a long list of other construction-related work. The CDC conducts centralized collective bargaining in the construction sector on behalf of our affiliated Locals. The resultant provincial collective agreements are the foundation of one of the world's most productive and efficient labour-management systems.

SOURCE Carpenters' District Council of Ontario

Nikki Holland, Director of Public Affairs, Carpenters' District Council of Ontario, 905-652-4140