Last week’s announcement by Canfor to restructure its BC operations to better align its manufacturing capacity with the available long-term fibre supply represents a major turning point for the BC forest industry. Canfor’s announcement was part of a long series of government and industry announcements over the last two weeks. Such announcements also included $146 million for various government initiatives. Collectively, these announcements have provided insight into the current and future state of the BC forest industry. … starting in chronological order:

• New jobs fund will support employment, resilient economics – Jan 17
• Province, Blueberry River First Nations reach agreement – Jan 18
• BC provides funding to expand use of fibre and support workers – Jan 19
• Crofton mill gets workers back on the job with government funding –Jan 20
• BC, Treaty 8 First Nations build path forward together – Jan 20
• BC, Treaty 8 First Nations build path forward together – Jan 20
• Update on Tolko’s BC Facilities – Jan 23
• New forestry program will expand manufacturing, create jobs – Jan 24
• New conservancy protects rare ecosystems in Incomappleux Valley – Jan 25
• Canfor Restructuring BC Operations to Create Sustainable Footprint –Jan 25
• Working Group to Explore Solutions for Western’s Alberni Division –Jan 26

…Canfor’s restructuring is symbolic as it signals the resounding end to the mountain pine beetle era for the BC interior and heralds the start of the so-called ‘paradigm shift’ – for better or for worse. Expect more capacity reductions to come.