Turkstra Lumber CEO warns of job losses, calls for lower fees

A key player in the construction industry of Niagara and its surrounding areas has a request of local municipalities in the fight against tariffs being imposed by the U.S. government.

Peter Turkstra, chief executive officer of Turkstra Lumber, has sent videos and issued a letter to area mayors asking for a reduction in costs related to construction permits as well as development fees.

“If you don’t respond, we expect a catastrophic level of unemployment in construction and an immediate impact on all those supplying the construction industry,” Turkstra wrote in his letter.

In a statement provided to Fort Erie Radio by Mayor Wayne Redekop on the subject, it doesn’t appear the Town of Fort Erie is immediately willing to make adjustments.

Redekop said he’s spoken with staff regarding the level of development charges levied by the municipality, and the legislative process to revise the relevant bylaw would involve much public consultation.

He also noted council has recently adopted an affordable housing community improvement program designed to provide financial relief to those who build additional dwelling units in existing structures or affordable housing units, including rental apartments.

“As far as I know, we are one of only a couple of municipalities in Niagara to date to adopt such a program,” said Redekop, noting that the town is trying to get the Region to partner with municipalities so that relief is available at both levels of government, but “there has been resistance to date.”

In either case, the costs associated with the requested reductions “would have to be financed through the general tax levy and/or a reduction in the level of service available to builders and developers,” said the mayor.

Chris McQueen, Fort Erie’s chief administrative officer, also said there are a number of complications in granting what Turkstra is asking for, one of them being that municipalities have little control in creating tools to incentivize builders.

“We’re very limited as a municipality under the legislation to do much, to change the current development charges,” McQueen said in an interview with Fort Erie Radio on Thursday.

He said “development pays for development” and that if the town were to cut what developers pay the local government, the residents would feel the impacts.

“The onus of the cost then shifts to the tax bill,” said McQueen.

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