Jody Toor

Centralia, Washington — Rural communities across the Pacific Northwest are facing increasing economic uncertainty as mill closures, trade disputes and restrictive forest management policies threaten family-wage jobs, a news release from state Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, stated. To address these shared challenges and strengthen cross-border collaboration, Abbarno met with his counterpart from the British Columbia Legislative Assembly, Official Opposition Caucus Chair Jody Toor, at the state Capitol in Olympia. Toor met with Abbarno to discuss the relationship between Washington state and British Columbia, particularly the challenges facing the timber industry. With both regions facing fiber shortages, a severe shortage of raw logs and wood chips needed to operate mills, and fluctuating market conditions, the two legislative leaders agreed that open communication is essential to navigating the issues affecting the regional economy, according to the release.