Canadian Forest Industry Pledges Support to Japan

The Canadian forest industry this week pledged to help Japan deal with the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that struck that country on March 11. In a letter to Japanese customers and government officials, 16 forest industry CEOs pledged to assist both immediate and long-term plans to provide housing for those affected by the disaster.

The letter recognizes the devastation and hardship in Japan and expresses sympathy for a close and long standing trading partner.

In support of the Japanese government's efforts to quickly create temporary housing for tens of thousands of people, the letter promises to prioritize the supply and production of emergency building materials and to collaboratively work with the transportation and shipping industry to get those materials to Japan as quickly as possible.

The Canadian forest industry has also begun talks with the provincial and federal governments to determine what aid can be provided for the long-term task of rebuilding those Japanese communities that were destroyed.

The forest industry companies and groups signing the letter were: Western Forest Products, Council of Forest Industries, BC Wood, Coast Forest Products Association, Interex Forest Products Ltd., Hampton Affiliates, Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd., Canfor Corp., West Fraser Timber Co. Weyerhaeuser Co., Teal Jones Group, Sinclar Enterprises Ltd., International Forest Products Ltd., Norbord Inc., Ainsworth Lumber Co., and Tolko Industries Ltd.

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