EMERGENCY FOR WORKERS -- Liberals Fail to Take Action on Forestry Sector, say interior BC Conservative MPs

Conservative Members of Parliament Cathy McLeod, Bob Zimmer, Todd Doherty, Dan Albas, and Shannon Stubbs, sent a letter to the Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Innovation, Science and Economic Development calling on them to take action in support of British Columbia's forestry sector.

"In recent weeks, the closure and curtailment of softwood lumber mills has devastated communities across the British Columbia interior," said MP Doherty. "The job losses are staggering. They will impact not just the employees and their families, but also countless people and businesses across the ridings we represent."

Kamloops – Thompson – Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod continued stating:

"The Liberal Government has shown a complete lack of respect for these rural communities as this crisis has unfolded. Over six weeks ago I wrote to Minister Bains to request immediate assistance from his department, but there has been nothing but silence from the Minister's office".

She then observed, "In that time the situation has worsened, and the Liberal government appears to be oblivious to the needs of families in our region."

Dan Albas, who often contributes commentaries on this blogsite, and who is the MP for the federal riding of Central Okanagan – Similkameen – Nicola, spoke to the fact that it is, “ ... crystal clear to the forestry workers in BC that the Liberals' Western Economic Diversification program is not working for them, and that Minister Bains appears to have no real understanding of the economic realities that are taking place in the BC interior"

"This is what happens when regional economic development agencies that should be focused on the unique challenges of different regions across Canada are aggregated under a single minister from a major urban centre", stated Albas who is the Conservatives Shadow Minister of Innovation, Science, Economic Development and Internal Trade ... and who also sits on the Standing Committee on Industry, Science, and Technology.

Prince George – Peace River, MP Bob Zimmer called on the Trudeau Liberals to, “... take immediate steps to alleviate this crisis. In the short-term, employees and their communities require increased engagement on the part of the federal government, especially boots on the ground from Service Canada and the Department of Western Economic Diversification to guide people in accessing existing programs".

Having been born in Dawson Creek, and raised in Ft. St. John, it’s no wonder then that Zimmer continued with these words ... "More action can also be taken in the long-term to support the economic diversification of rural municipalities, like those in the ridings we represent."

In concluding their concerns to Navdeep Bains (Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development) and Amarjeet Sohi (Minister of Natural Resources, the last word went to MP Shannon Stubbs who concluded:

"Conservative MPs across the region take this issue seriously. We know that action must be taken immediately, and we call on Trudeau and his Liberal government to stop ignoring the needs of rural communities."