Linda Coady

Vancouver, BC — Linda Coady, President & CEO of the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) made the following statement in response to ongoing mill closures and curtailments in BC: Escalating closures and curtailments of lumber, pulp and paper mills in BC mean the provincial government needs to move faster to stabilize timber supply. Additional transition measures are needed within the next 60 days to address current challenges in approval and permitting systems, and changing land use policies that are leading to dramatic declines in harvest levels. …COFI recognizes that Premier David Eby has appointed Andrew Mercier as Minister of State for Sustainable Forestry Innovation to work with BC Forest Minister Bruce Ralston to stabilize fibre supply. We urge the province to accelerate the work being done to find solutions. …Now is the time for additional steps to be taken to build investor confidence and ensure a long standing and foundational industry continues to benefit the province.