BURSTLeader of the BC Conservative Party Lorne Doerkson made a campaign stop at a shake and shingle mill in Maple Ridge on Monday, Oct. 19, to announce new supports for forestry jobs in the province if his party is elected to office.
Doerkson shook hands with workers at Waldun Forest Products in east Maple Ridge, in the riding of BC Conservative incumbent candidate Lawrence Mok, where he said he will give the sector more predictable access to fibre, speed up the permit process, and eliminate unnecessary permitting costs in the sector.
He noted forestry has a proud history in the Cariboo region of B.C., where he is from.
“It has built our towns, it has supported our families, contributed massively to the success of British Columbia,” he said.
Doerkson said under the BC NDP, the forestry harvest has consistently run well below the allowable annual cut, which, according to BC government, is 44,372,144 cubic metres per year.
He set a goal of 45 million cubic metres, minimum, for the annual cut.
And, he said they will simplify harvest approvals, while protecting the environment.
“We will do that by establishing a provincial, major-project-style process for forestry permits, approvals, and investments,” said Doerkson, promising that decisions will take months, not years.
He also pledged his government would review and eliminate unnecessary permitting costs and encourage Indigenous participation in the forestry industry by investing in skills training and ensuring First Nations will benefit from any federal funding to support the industry.
He also vowed to create competitive tax conditions.
“So, value-added wood manufacturers can create more jobs, revitalize our communities, and extract more return from our forest sector,” he said.
Doerkson accused the NDP government of throwing up roadblocks, red tape, and added costs, making it difficult to unlock the potential of the forest industry.
Since 2023 at least 21 lumber mills have closed permanently or indefinitely, under the NDP, said Doerkson. And, in the last four years about 15,000 forestry jobs have disappeared, he claimed.