Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

bcts review

BC Timber Sales review launched, with forestry sector policy action pledged within six months

Jan 15, 2025 | 6:00 PM

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — The provincial government announced this week that a new task force has been named to review and produce new policy recommendations to leverage BC Timber Sales.

“Thousands of jobs rely on the work that we’re going to be doing over the next four years,” says BC Forests Minister Ravi Parmar. “I’ve visited communities right across this province that are hurting from mill closures and curtailments and they’re looking for me and our government to take action. It’s why we’re doing this review.”

There’s a six-month timeline to the review with a goal of improving the stability of BC’s Forestry Industry in the longer term.

Alongside Lennard Joe, CEO for the BC First Nations Forestry Council, and Vanderhoof councillor Brian Frenkel, former MLA and multi-term cabinet minister George Abbott is among those chosen to be a part of the task force. Abbott says the review is being undertaken at a particularly challenging time for the industry as a whole.

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“The forest industry remains very, very important — particularly to Interior and northern B.C. — and having a forest policy base on which to build stronger communities is such an important thing. That’s why I feel incredibly honoured to be a part of this process,” he adds.

The review comes as the province also announced plans to double the amount of BC Timber Sales volume that is dedicated to value-added manufacturers, from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. Parmar says he wants to grow BC’s value-added sector.

“We don’t have enough time to wait. With the challenges we’re going to see in 2025 with the softwood lumber duties and whatever the Trump tariff looks like, we need to take action. And I’m excited about how we can deliver that through BC Timber Sales.”

Along with potential for increased tariffs, BC’s Forestry Industry has been working through a decline in allowable annual cuts, problems accessing fibre and economic strain, which are key areas the review will be making recommendations on.

“The flow of fibre to mills is really important. The security of jobs is really important. Having First Nations access to the resource is important,” adds Abbott, “so there’s all kinds of issues, I think, that are swirling now.”

There are extensive consultations to be done in the next six months, but the forests minister is pledging fast action.

“It’s going to be the most efficient review the Ministry of Forests has ever done. It’s going to be done within six months, with actions taken immediately, as well,” reiterates Parmar.

Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer, the opposition Conservatives’ critic for forestry, called on Parmar and the NDP government to forego the review and take immediate steps to help the industry.

“The forestry sector is in crisis, and British Columbians deserve real solutions—not more reviews and delays,” said Stamer in a news release. “BC is already the highest cost jurisdiction and now government wants to spend more time studying the problem while mills are closing, jobs are being lost, and communities are suffering. We need immediate action to speed up the fibre approval process and grant access to burnt timber to ensure mills have the resources they need to survive.”