“The reality is we could be doing a lot more here in B.C., making more wood available, fixing the cost structure, and helping put the feet back under our sector.”
– John Rustad, Leader of the Official Opposition
VICTORIA, B.C.: “Once again, this crisis was not inevitable. Forestry has been in significant decline for eight years under the NDP. The allowable cut has dropped by two-thirds. Now, with these additional tariffs, Premier Eby is jumping up and down and pointing fingers. The reality is we could be doing a lot more here in B.C., making more wood available, fixing the cost structure, and helping put the feet back under our sector.
And when it comes to dealing with President Trump, we need action. Banning Kentucky bourbon won’t do anything for our forest sector. We need to get tougher. This means starting with a levy on U.S. thermal coal that moves through B.C. ports. If that’s not enough, those shipments should be outright banned to put real pressure on the U.S. and bring them to the table.
Forestry workers and communities have been paying the price for years, and these new tariffs will be the final blow. Mills are shuttering, contractors are idle, and families are running out of time. COFI and industry leaders warned that overregulation and fibre shortages were putting us on the brink, and now we’re there. In some regions, it takes up to three years to get a cutting permit, which feels like a slow death sentence for an industry that built this province. Every day this government delays action, more jobs and communities are lost.”
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Media Contact:
Ryan Painter
Communications
Ryan.Painter@leg.bc.ca
