What about that statement today that ‘Canada’s natural resources drive our economy and support thousands of middle-class jobs’ – forestry’s a natural resource

According to our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ... Canada’s natural resources drive our economy and support thousands of middle-class jobs. Building modern infrastructure and clean technologies in the resource sector is part of the Government of Canada’s plan to get our resources to new markets, spark economic growth, and accelerate Canada’s clean energy transition.

Premier John Horgan and Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau (Facebook image)

Today in a joint announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and BC Premier John Horgan, they affirmed a joint commitment to power British Columbia’s natural gas production and liquefied natural gas (LNG) sectors with its clean electricity.

I’m going to remind you however of the initial comment ... Canada’s natural resources drive our economy and support thousands of middle-class jobs.

Wouldn’t that then also include say the BC forest industry ... which in 2017 employed just under 50,000 people according to Statistics Canada?

Furthermore, according to Forestry Innovation Investment (FII), which is accountable to the BC Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology:

“British Columbia is recognized as a global leader in sustainable forest management, meeting the environmental, social and economic needs of current and future generations ... ”

Again, quoting Forest Innovation Investment;

Revenue from the harvest of trees and production of forest products fund infrastructure and government services that British Columbians depend on. In 2017, the B.C. Government reported that $992 million in government revenue was attributable to the forest sector.

The BC forest industry provides value to the province not just in the tens of thousands of jobs it supports (140,728 jobs according to the Council Of Forest Industries in 2016) ... but also the billions of dollars in revenues it generates for the government.

I’m saying this because despite what BC Premier John Horgan says, and has said, about the resource industries of BC ... the message doesn’t seem to be getting through to his MLA’s ... that likely because of what they discuss, and are told, behind closed doors.

Once the ally of resource-based unions, we now have for example NDP MLA Ravi Kahlon saying that there are too many mills operating in BC ... which of course also indirectly means there’s too many of those good paying union jobs as well.

Talking out of both sides of their mouths, the BC NDP are overseeing the destruction of an entire industry in our province, despite today’s statement that ...  Canada’s natural resources drive our economy and support thousands of middle-class jobs.

Forestry is indeed a natural resource, one which has been a huge part of the fabric of our province decade after decade, but apparently a billion dollars in annual revenue to the government ... and well over a hundred thousand jobs reliant on the forest sector ... aren’t as important as they once were.

You can’t have the parliamentary secretary for the forest ministry saying there’s too many mills in BC, if that were not indeed so