VICTORIA, B.C.: The severe struggles facing B.C.’s beleaguered forestry industry are the result of mismanagement from the B.C. NDP and federal Liberal governments, Ward Stamer, Conservative Shadow Minister for Forestry, is saying.

“While the NDP have attempted to shift away all the blame, the truth is that they have failed to address issues that have been plaguing the forestry sector for a long time,” said Stamer. “The NDP have done nothing about the permitting delays and unnecessary regulatory costs facing the forestry industry and their implementation of DRIPA has added uncertainty to investing in B.C.’s natural resources. And as the industry struggles with shrinking fibre access, the NDP substantially reduced the amount of merchantable timber by changing the definition of ‘old growth’ trees. The NDP government’s mismanagement has resulted in 15,000 jobs lost since 2022, B.C.’s annual timber harvest being halved from 60 million cubic metres in 2018 to 30 million in 2025 and provincial royalties falling to $500 million from $1.8 billion in 2022. It is nothing short of a disaster.”

“By failing to resolve the trade dispute with the U.S. and failing to renew CUSMA, the federal government has also cost B.C.’s forestry industry in a major way,” Stamer added. “Obviously, the American tariffs have been harmful, but it is ultimately the responsibility of the federal government to ensure our industries are protected in these situations, and the Liberals’ reckless strategy of escalating the trade dispute hurt B.C. forestry workers.”

“The NDP and Liberals are trying to turn B.C. forestry into a sunset industry, but with proper support it has enormous potential, as the demand for wood and wood products continues to grow exponentially worldwide,” said Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Leader of the Conservative Party of B.C. “Instead of pursuing a policy of managed decline, the government must remove the barriers hindering the industry’s growth, so it can once again bring prosperity to B.C. workers and communities.”

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Media Contact:
Nikki Bal
Conservative.Communications@leg.bc.ca
+1 (672) 922-0948