VANCOUVER – British Columbia forestry groups have written to Premier David Eby saying the industry is at a “breaking point” and calling for urgent action to address challenges ranging from slow-moving provincial processes to steep U.S. tariffs. The letter dated Sept. 4 said the entire industry is at risk, from logging and transportation to pulp and paper and value-added manufacturing. “…Government must respond with the urgency that crisis demands,” said the letter from contractors, manufacturers, unions and others linked to the sector. …But other challenges are “homegrown,” it said. The province “can control many of the costs, regulations, policies, permitting processes and fibre-access decisions that determine whether those companies survive it,” the letter said. …Eddie Petryshen, with Wildsight, said the “falldown” of the forest industry has been predicted — and ignored — for decades. …Parmar highlighted the province’s plan to shift to a “working forest” model, saying that it would address concerns the industry has been raising.
Additional coverage in:
- Chek News, Rob Shaw: Forestry sector urges action in ‘crisis time’
- Prince George Citizen, Ted Clarke: Forestry coalition demands Eby act to fix ailing industry
- Victoria News, by Mark Page: B.C. forestry groups say industry at ‘breaking point’
- CBC News, Arden McLeod: B.C.’s forestry sector on verge of collapse, industry leaders warn as they urge province to act