Andrew Mercier

The NDP government response to the continuing crisis in the B.C. forest sector has been “inadequate,” “scatter gun” and “delivered with little attention to the need for an overall strategy to sustain the industry.” So said a trio of forest sector unions in a report that Premier David Eby himself acknowledged as a wake-up call for the NDP in an election year. …The unions blamed myriad job losses and mill closures on… the policies of the previous B.C. Liberal government. But they did not spare the NDP failure to develop a strategy for a sustainable industry for the future. …The report is especially critical of the workforce and community adjustment programs brought in by the NDP since they assumed office in 2017. …The premier promised the group that the New Democrats will “address the issues you’ve identified.” But given the failings documented in the report, Eby’s commitment may not last much longer than this election year.