Prince George, B.C. – The President of the United Steelworkers Local 1-424 says the recent Canada-US decision to extend the contentious Softwood Lumber Agreement until 2015 offers stability as the industry continues to pull through one of its worst recessions in history.

The agreement to extend the multi-billion dollar deal came at the end of January and must be tabled within the House of Commons within 21 sitting days to be passed, Parliament resumed on Wednesday.

While the NDP’s International Trade critic has called the extension a ‘missed opportunity’ to re-visit some of the bones of contention, Local 1-424 President, Frank Everitt, says, "It’s good from the point of view that with the continuation, the parties don’t have to be focused on more litigation around that subject matter."

"We may have continuing issues to deal with the Americans on softwood, but we have an agreement in place so that we can continue to operate under it," says Everitt. "And argue about other things, rather than having the whole thing up in the air."

The USW boss says the US continues to remain a major market for northern forestry operations, but great strides have been made in diversification with inroads being made in China and India.  Everitt says, "It’s beneficial to everyone, I think it helps stabilize the prices and gives us an opportunity to expand our area of sales – and increased prices come with that, usually."