Federal drywall tariff out West raises costs, threatens Fort McMurray rebuild

ICTORIA – Drywall prices across Western Canada are shooting through the roof after the federal government imposed an anti-dumping tariff of up to 276 per cent on gypsum board products being imported from the United States.

Builders and suppliers say the tariff threatens the stability of the industry and could also impact the rebuilding efforts at fire ravaged Fort McMurray.

Doug Skrepnek the CEO of WSB Titan, Canada's largest independent gypsum supplier, says the unexpected tariff has resulted in drywall price increases of 50 per cent or more in the last week.

The Canada Border Services Agency imposed the preliminary tariff last Tuesday on U.S. gypsum board imported into Canada for use in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Skrepnek says home builders fear the ruling could disrupt the supply and risks bankrupting contractors who operate under fixed-priced contracts.

CSBA says in a statement that the preliminary anti-dumping decision was made following an investigation into a complaint filed by building supply company CertainTeed Gypsum Canada Inc. of Mississauga, Ont.