Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Mayor of Grand Forks announced that the Interfor mill is closing indefinitely because of unjustified U.S. tariffs. To the people of Grand Forks and Boundary, this is devastating. The mill is an important employer; there are 150 jobs being lost in one small town.
I say to the families affected by the mill closure that I will continue to call on the Liberal government to get a softwood lumber deal, one that is fair to our workers in our communities like Grand Forks. Current programs and 10 years of Liberal pledges are not putting a roof over families' heads, putting food on the table or creating jobs like those that have been available at the Interfor mill for generations.
Grand Forks and its residents deserve more. Grand Forks families want their jobs back.
I say to the families of Grand Forks that my office is available to support them in any way I can.