By Ashley Legassic

FORESTRY CRISIS

Province announces $69 million in funding to help support forestry workers

Sep 17, 2019 | 10:38 AM

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — The provincial government has announced $69 million in funding to help support forestry workers affected by permanent and indefinite mill closures in the province.

Forestry Minister Doug Donaldson and Labour Minister Harry Bains were in Prince George today to announce the funding.

“We’re all here today very aware of the challenges facing our Interior forestry sector,” Donaldson said. “Our government has consistently said we’re committed to supporting forestry workers.”

Low lumber prices have been blamed for the devastating downturn in B.C.’s forestry sector — which has led to several significant shut downs and curtailments across the BC Interior.

Communities like Kamloops, Mackenzie, Lumby, Kelowna, Chetwynd, 100 Mile House, Quesnel, and Williams Lake have been severely impacted by closures and curtailments.

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The funding will be allocated toward different parts of the province’s action plan:

• $40 million will be used to establish a new cost-shared, early retirement bridging program for older forestry workers
• $15 million to establish a new short-term forest employment program focused on fire prevention and community resiliency projects
• $12 million for workers to access skills training, and for employer and community grants for training
• $2 million to establish a new job placement coordination office that will track the transition and employment of impacted forest workers on an individual basis.

Donaldson also put an emphasis on offering mental health services for forestry workers who have lost their jobs or face uncertainty for the future of their careers.

“The Province is committed to supporting the people impacted by this change, but we need the forest industry and the federal government to step up and do their part as well,” Donaldson said. “I’m hopeful that the Interior forest sector recognizes that the new industry that will arise from this transition will need skilled, experienced workers to produce new forest products that can compete in global markets.”