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By Parliamentary Secretary of Forests Doug Routley

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Creating good jobs for strong rural communities

Jan 25, 2023 | 10:10 AM

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN B.C., from big cities to small towns, the most important part of our economy is the people. As the Parliamentary Secretary for Forests and MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan, I’m committed to making sure people have strong communities to call home, with good-paying jobs and public services that families can count on.

As someone who has worked in forestry, I know personally how vital the sector is for our province. As global economies and demands change we know that we need to be better prepared across the province to navigate this shift. Last week, we introduced the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, which is part of our plan to create more good-paying jobs, build stronger, more resilient forestry communities and create new economic opportunities through innovative, value-added manufacturing.

The provincial government is investing $90 million dollars to drive clean growth in rural, remote and Indigenous communities by supporting industrial and manufacturing projects. For example, this might include helping a forestry company to buy new equipment to support new production lines like mass timber or paper packaging. Producing new types of products will allow companies to keep good-paying jobs in communities.

The fund will support both planning projects in the earlier stages, as well as provide capital funding for projects that are ready to get off the ground.

Forestry is part of the foundation of B.C.’s economy, and we’re working to create more jobs for every tree harvested. We can do this by ensuring more high-value wood products are processed and manufactured here at home. To support this type of innovation, we need to be willing to try new things.

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This new fund will focus on supporting projects in communities that are experiencing economic impacts from changes to the forestry sector. These are the same communities that helped build the province we know today, and they deserve a strong, sustainable economy now and into the future.

The fund also builds on the $185 million we announced in 2022 to support forestry workers, industry, communities and First Nations that may be affected by deferrals of old-growth logging.

Just a few days ago, I was excited to help announce a joint provincial and federal investment that will put over 100 people back to work at the Crofton mill in my constituency. The facility is retooling to make water-resistant paper packaging to replace single-use plastics. This is a great example of how investment in our forestry infrastructure can help reduce emissions, encourage innovation, reduce waste and make sure we get the most value from every tree harvested.

The boom-and-bust cycles of the past left workers and their families behind. But we’re keeping people at the heart of all our efforts to build a stronger B.C. because if the economy doesn’t work for everyone, then it doesn’t work for our province.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.