WARD STAMER: Forest workers aren’t asking for special treatment. They’re asking for a government that understands forestry is a way of life in BC

British Columbia’s forest industry has long been one of the pillars of our provincial economy. For generations, forestry has provided stable employment, supported rural communities and helped build the economic foundation of this province.

From communities like Prince George, Quesnel, Williams Lake and Kamloops, the forest sector has supported families for decades. These are communities where forestry is not simply an industry, it’s the economic heartbeat of a region.

But today that heartbeat is weakening. Across British Columbia we are witnessing a troubling pattern of mill curtailments, permanent closures and layoffs. Families who have worked in forestry for generations now face uncertainty about their future. Entire communities are feeling the economic consequences.

In communities such as Houston and Merritt, 100 Mile House and Crofton, mill closures have had devastating ripple effects. When a mill shuts down, it impacts far more than the workers inside that facility. Truck drivers, logging contractors, equipment operators, mechanics, small business owners and their workers all suffer the loss. And that ripple spreads across the entire community.

And yet many in this industry feel that their concerns have not been heard by this current government.

Instead of providing certainty and stability for the forest sector, government decisions have created growing uncertainty.

Policy announcements have often come without meaningful consultation with the workers and communities that depend on forestry for their livelihoods.

Companies need long-term certainty to invest in modern mills, new technology and workforce stability. Unfortunately, the regulatory environment today has made those investments far more difficult.

We are also facing serious challenges relating to timber supply. The impacts of the mountain pine beetle epidemic, and the increasing severity of our wildfire seasons, have dramatically reduced fibre in many parts of BC. Yet rather than implementing strong and proactive forest management strategies, this government has too often allowed uncertainty and delay to dominate the conversation.

Active forest management, including responsible harvesting, reforestation and improved wildfire mitigation, is essential to maintaining a sustained forest sector. Instead, industry and communities are often left navigating lengthy permitting processes and unclear policy direction.

Forest workers are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for common sense. They’re asking for a government that understands that forestry is not just an industry, it’s a way of life in British Columbia.

The reality is that forestry remains one of BC’s most important economic drivers. It supports thousands of jobs and generates billions of dollars in economic activity every single year.

Our lumber producers and products are recognized around the world for their quality and sustainability. British Columbia already has some of the highest standards in the world, but current policies continue to push investment away from the province and we risk losing more mills, more jobs and more opportunities for our communities.

BC deserves better. Forestry helped build this province. It built our towns, our infrastructure, our economies. People that work in this industry deserve to know that their government supports them and understands the importance of their work every single day.

At the end of the day, we are left with a very clear choice. We can either have significant change in forest policies from this government, policies that support timber supply, investment and active forest management, or British Columbians may soon be calling for something else: a change in government.

If this government cannot recognize the importance of this important industry, and the communities that depend on it, then it is those communities that will ultimately demand the leadership that will.

Forest workers, their families and communities across British Columbia deserve better.

The video of Ward's statement, from this morning (March 9th) can be found by clicking the following link:

Ward Stamer is MLA for Kamloops – North Thompson, and forestry critic for the Conservative Party of BC.