'I am not satisfied': David Eby says he will find a path forward for BC's forestry sector

Premier David Eby says he is not satisfied with people closing sawmills in BC and leaving workers stranded.

During an interview with KelownaNow, Eby said he and the BC NDP are going to find a path forward to support the forestry sector.

“The forest industry is under huge stress. I mean, 30, 000 jobs evaporated under the time John Rustad was in government with the BC Liberals in the forest sector and the challenges continue,” Eby said. “Forest companies are under huge stress.”

The premier went on to blame pine beetle kill, forest fires, high lumber prices and a “massive” increase in duties for bringing wood into the US. Those claims were echoed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this week.

The comments from both political leaders come after half a dozen sawmills have closed in BC over the past four months.

That includes Canfor operations in Prince George, Bear Lake, Houston, Vanderhoof and Fort. St. John and the temporary closure of Aspen Planers in Merritt.

In total, 1,000 jobs were impacted due to those curtailments. That is on top of the 10,000 forestry jobs lost in 2023.

John Rustad, leader of the BC Conservatives, called the Canfor closure “tragic” and has continually slammed the BC NDP for their forest policies.

BC United leader Kevin Falcon claimed that the NDP had turned its back on the forestry industry. BC United MLA Renee Merrifield has claimed the NDP was intentionally 'dealing death blows' to the forestry sector.

Canfor blamed the closure on lack of access to fibre and the provincial government’s policy and regulation changes that have made the permitting process a challenge.

However, the NDP’s forest minister, Bruce Ralston told KelownaNow that was not the case and that the government worked with the company to ensure they had access to a fiber supply.

Eby echoed those claims, telling KelownaNow that they tried working with the company.

“We worked really hard with Canfor in the Houston area to identify fiber for them and ensure they had all the permits in process,” said Eby, referring to the cancellation of the company’s planned reinvestment in the area.

“They had a reliable source of wood and they decided to walk away from that investment anyway.”

Eby shifted to the Prince George area, citing challenges working with local First Nations to ensure companies are not taken to court for harvesting in areas they may not be allowed to.

The premier also claimed that there are companies that have access to fibre but are still making “difficult decisions” that impact BC’s forestry workers and sector.

KelownaNow asked the premier how the province’s forestry sector was faring compared to Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Eby said that the forestry industry did “very well” during the pandemic when the price of lumber was higher and that there are ongoing investments happening across the province for value added products.

He pointed to the recent funding announced for Kelowna-based Command Industries and a $5 million investment at Kruger Kamloops Pulp mill.

The premier acknowledged the “huge strain” the forestry industry was under but said the BC NDP had a strategy in place to lessen the impact.

“We're doing a couple of things. One is getting more jobs per tree,” he explained.

“The other is making sure that we're protecting iconic old growth forests for future generations. And the third is ensuring a sustainable forest industry going forward for British Columbians that connects our trees with the people who are creating jobs in the province and investing in the province is the path forward for us.”

KelownaNow asked what the BC NDP’s plan was for addressing wildfires and how they plan on including the forestry industry in those initiatives.

Eby said he has heard suggestions of including the forestry industry in more wildfire mitigation projects and said that was something identified in his Task Force on Wildfires.

“One of the areas that was identified for action is ensuring that forest companies are included to minimize the impact, especially in the interface areas between forests and communities,” he said, pointing to the $15 million wildfire fuel break project in Vernon.

He said this project would provide fibre for the forestry companies while protecting the community and said the government was working to identify similar opportunities across the province.

“I am not satisfied with people closing mills and owning tenure in our province, stranding it, and preventing people from working. We’re going to find a path forward on that to support our forest sector,” Eby said.