PRINCE GEORGE, B.C.: Canfor Corporation has announced the permanent closure of its Northwood pulp mill in Prince George. It is the latest blow to an industry that has seen more than 30 mill closures since the NDP took office nearly a decade ago.

For years, the NDP government has piled on policies that have made it harder to keep mills open.

Excessive environmental regulations, shifting definitions of old growth, third-party agreements cutting into profitability, punitive stumpage fees, endless permitting delays and uncertainty around land claims have driven up costs and pushed investment out of B.C. Forest companies are now facing costs and obligations so high that some operations are simply no longer viable.

“None of this had to happen. Instead of chasing photo ops and social media, Forests Minister Ravi Parmar should have been fighting to save forestry jobs,” said Ward Stamer, Shadow Minister for Forestry. “B.C.’s forestry sector has been crippled by soaring log costs, excessive regulation, permitting delays and growing competition from overseas. These problems have been obvious for years, yet the minister did nothing. He blamed everything on the trade dispute with the U.S., but this closure wasn’t caused by tariffs. Years of government failure led to this.”

“My thoughts are with the 300 hardworking employees of the mill and their families who depend on them. They did not deserve this,” said Kiel Giddens, Shadow Minister for Labour and MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie. “The NDP has failed workers time and again. Government’s own target is a 45 million cubic metre annual harvest across BC, yet the industry is struggling to reach 29 million cubic metres. Mill after mill has closed, good-paying jobs have disappeared, and hardworking British Columbians are paying the price for the NDP’s negligence.” In 2023, Canfor also closed its PG Pulp and Paper operation. At the time, then-Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey dismissed the warning signs for the industry by saying ‘the North will be fine.’ Since then, little has been done for forest industry competitiveness even in a time of tariffs and global market changes.

“The NDP has reduced one of B.C.’s greatest industries to a running list of closure announcements,” said Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Leader of the Conservative Party of B.C. “”Every mill that shuts down represents families forced to rethink their future and communities left wondering what disappears next. British Columbia has the people and the forest resources required to become the most competitive forestry jurisdiction in Canada. What we lack is a government willing to let the industry succeed.”

– 30 –

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