Beaver Cove, BC: As industry leaders, Indigenous partners, and contractors gather this week at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, the gap between government rhetoric and reality could not be clearer. Just hours after the Eby government once again touted reconciliation, certainty, and economic opportunity under DRIPA, Atli Chip Ltd, a company wholly owned by the ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation, announced it is managing the orderly closure of its Beaver Cove chip facility.
The closure comes despite public tax dollars, repeated government announcements, and assurances that new policy frameworks would stabilize forestry employment and create long-term opportunity in rural and coastal British Columbia.
“British Columbians are being told one story, while communities are living another,” said Ward Stamer, Critic for Forests. “This closure makes it clear that announcements and press releases do not translate into real-world outcomes for workers, contractors, or Indigenous partners.”
The Eby government provided public tax dollars to support the acquisition and operation of the Beaver Cove facility and repeatedly promised that its reconciliation and forestry policies would bring certainty and stability to the sector. Instead, forestry communities are facing fibre shortages, delayed approvals, and weakened supply chains, leaving facilities like Beaver Cove exposed when markets shift.
“This is not a failure of workers or communities,” said Anna Kindy, MLA for North Island. “Around 20 people are losing their jobs, and the ripple effects will be felt by contractors, suppliers, and local businesses across the North Island. This is the result of a policy environment that creates uncertainty, delays approvals, and makes long-term planning impossible. Forestry communities are paying the price.”
Scott McInnis, Critic for Indigenous Relations, said the closure highlights the growing gap between government rhetoric and economic reality.
“Just last week, the province proudly announced a new land use planning agreement with the very First Nation that is a majority owner of this mill,” said Scott McInnis, Critic for Indigenous Relations. “That agreement was brought forward under the government’s DRIPA-driven land governance approach, yet it comes far too late for the workers who are now losing their jobs. Reconciliation and land use frameworks cannot be treated as ends in themselves. If they are not paired with timely decisions, clear accountability, and policies that actually keep facilities operating, then government is simply managing process while communities lose paycheques.”
Stamer said British Columbia cannot regulate, redesign, and reinterpret its way to a stable forestry sector. Communities need clear rules, predictable timelines, and accountability for results.
“Forestry is not just another sector,” Stamer added. “It is the economic foundation of communities across this province. When government fails to get forestry right, entire regions feel the consequences.”
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