A Globally Competitive BC Forest Sector
British Columbia’s forest sector supports good jobs, strong communities and one in five manufacturing workers in the province. It provides the renewable materials we need to build homes and make the essential products we use every day, supports reconciliation, and helps reduce wildfire risk.
But urgent action is needed to stop the deepening crisis in BC’s forest sector. Since 2022, more than 15,000 forestry jobs have been lost, and over 20 mills have closed or curtailed.
The damage doesn’t stop at the mill gate. Every closure puts contractors, suppliers, secondary manufacturers, local small businesses and communities at risk. Once jobs, infrastructure and manufacturing capacity are lost, they may never return. Urgent action is needed to restore competitiveness, secure an affordable and predictable wood supply, and keep people working.
As British Columbians prepare to vote for the next provincial government, COFI has outlined key policy priorities. The comparison below sets out COFI’s recommended actions alongside the commitments put forward by the BC NDP and Conservative Party of BC.
The Goal: Restore BC’s Leadership Position
BC has the renewable resources, skilled workforce and expertise to once again be globally competitive. We need coordinated action to get affordable wood to BC manufacturers. With the right policies, BC can protect good jobs, attract investment and strengthen communities across the province.
This election is an opportunity to put forestry back at the centre of BC’s economic priorities. We encourage forestry workers, businesses and communities to engage with local candidates, share what is at stake, and ask how their parties will support a competitive and sustainable forest sector.
The next provincial government must be ready to act from day one.
Advance Voting is open until October 21, and the General Voting Day in BC is October 24 – Voice your support for Forestry
View the full 2026 Provincial Forestry Platform Comparison:
