B.C. builders brace for tariff turbulence

News Snapshot:

Lumber, mechanical and electrical are all areas of particular concern for industry The ongoing trade spat between the U.S. and Canada is impacting B.C.’s construction sector in ways that could bring short-term gain and long-term pain. At first, there could be an oversupply of lumber if Canadian softwood is taken out of the U.S. equation, resulting in lower costs for B.C. builders and developers, said Padraic Kelly, Vancouver-based director with BTY Group. But costs would later rise significantly, he said. “The medium- and long-term pain would be that if the American market is choked out, mills would close, supply would...