As lumber sawmills continue to close across B.C., Premier David Eby said his government will look to connect existing tenures with new users as part of responding to those closures.
In addition to reconnecting existing tenures with new users, Eby also touted government's Manufacturing Jobs Fund. "Without decisive intervention, the viability of this foundational industry is at risk," Linda Coady, president and chief executive officer of the B.C. Council of Forest Industries. Declining timber supply in the face of various factors such climate change coupled with tenure uncertainty co-exist with other factors such as falling demand for wood products because of slowing economic activity and rising tariffs on B.C. lumber. The U.S. government last month announced that it would retroactively raise tariffs on most softwood lumber exports from Canada to 14.54 per cent, up from 8.05 per cent.
B.C.'s Forest Minister Bruce Ralston has vowed to do that. Ralston also promised that government would find ways to support workers, families and communities impacted by Canfor's decision while continuing to create opportunities in the forestry sector. Appeals for reform and promises of support in the face of closures in the forestry sector are taking place on the eve of an election. The Conservative Party of B.C.