Lorne Doerkson

I have deep and serious concerns regarding the state of the forest industry in British Columbia… Recently, the mayor of Campbell River wrote an open letter to Premier David Eby regarding the distressing decline of the coastal forestry sector. …But it’s not only coastal forestry – it’s the whole sector. …The forest industry doesn’t just create direct employment – it supports a wide range of spin-off jobs and provides critical economic benefits. …But in the past three years, we have seen the lowest sector revenue since the 2008-2010 Depression. It was only back in 2020 that our forestry revenue was $1.2 billion, but the 2025-26 budget projects $639 million. Harvest approvals that once took six months now take two years or more. …At a time when the cost of delivering healthcare, education, and public safety continues to rise, this shortfall places an unsustainable burden on British Columbians.