(Vancouver, BC) – Kim Haakstad, President & CEO of the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI), issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement from the Government of Canada on measures to support the forest sector and the release of the report from the Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Taskforce:
“We thank the members of the Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Taskforce for their time, effort, and engagement on the challenges facing Canada’s forest sector and look forward to reviewing the report in detail.”
“We are also pleased to see the Government of Canada recognize the serious pressures facing forestry workers, communities, and businesses, and we welcome the comprehensive enhancements to support the sector in the short term announced today by Minister Hodgson.”
“COFI welcomes new funding for the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C and BC Forest Innovation Investment, support for regional programs through Regional Development Agencies, expansion of the Business Development Bank of Canada programs, and financial support for trade diversification through the Canada Wood Group.”
“We support the focus on what Canada can control by addressing the home grown barriers and the Team Canada approach that recognizes the important roles of federal, provincial, and local governments in strengthening the sector. For BC, predictable and economic access to wood remains the highest priority to restore competitiveness, support investment, and maintain the tens of thousands of forestry jobs that communities across the province depend on.”
“We look forward to working with the governments of Canada and British Columbia to implement practical actions through the forthcoming action plan.”
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Media Contact:
Travis Joern, Director of Communications, COFI – Joern@cofi.org