Natural resource industries made B.C. the province it is today. The success of forestry, mining, and other forms of resource extraction were the epicenter of our economy for generations. Rural B.C. is populated by resource-dependent communities that have been established because of these industries, and as such, they are deeply impacted when the sector struggles.
Over the last few years, our province has been experiencing a crisis in forestry and it feels like nothing is being done to keep it from spiraling out of control. This year alone, numerous mills throughout rural and northern B.C., in places like Chetwynd, Prince George, and Houston have shut down their operations, and many others, like Aspen Planers in Merritt, face an uncertain future.
This crisis has also hit close to home, as we recently heard the upsetting news that Tolko’s Soda Creek mill in Williams Lake is permanently cutting a shift, meaning the loss of 65 jobs.
In all, it’s estimated that B.C. has already lost more than 900 forestry jobs this year.
That’s enough to hollow out communities — to change their fabric forever. It’s not just an economic problem, it’s a societal one. The cascade effects of major industry leaving a town are profound, and we cannot afford to let this happen throughout our province.
So, what is government doing to prevent the crisis from worsening? Honestly, there isn’t a clear answer to that question. This NDP government has done nothing to give me confidence they have a plan to save this industry. In fact, their own budget documents raise serious concerns about what the forestry sector will look like in the next few years.
For the 2022/23 fiscal year, the NDP report $1.8 billion in forestry revenues. However, their forecast for revenue from the industry in the 2023/24 year is only $846 million. This means that government is predicting that B.C. is going to bring in a billion dollars less in forestry revenue this year than it did the year previous.
That doesn’t sound like something a government confident in the future of forestry would predict. It casts doubts on any efforts by the NDP to revive the industry, as any support measures are coloured by this government’s own budgeting for the sector’s continued decline.
It is beyond frustrating to watch the NDP continually write off forestry in our province. It’s true that the industry may have to evolve over the next few years, but with a clear vision and leadership, and a government willing to provide real support, forestry in B.C. could truly flourish once again.
I’ve seen the incredible work and potential of value-added forestry, and what can happen when government is willing to be innovative. I just hope that the NDP will finally see it too — before it’s too late.
newsroom@100milefreepress.net
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