We call on the Government of Canada to make resolution of the softwood lumber dispute a top national priority. But this latest escalation also underscores a hard truth: we cannot wait for the US to act.
To keep forestry workers employed and communities strong, BC must urgently strengthen the conditions to succeed here at home. That starts with treating forestry as a major project to reach a target harvest of 45 million cubic metres and taking immediate action to restore wood flow, protect jobs, and stabilize the sector—while laying the groundwork for long-term competitiveness.
What needs to happen now:
- Accelerate the Path to 45 million cubic metres of annual harvest by unlocking near-term volume through fast-track permitting, BC Timber Sales (BCTS) auctions, and expanded salvage and thinning operations.
- Launch a dedicated permit triage and acceleration team—made up of experienced forestry professionals—to resolve the backlog of active permits and enable new applications. A functional single-window permitting system should be a long-term goal, but action is needed now.
- Break down cross-ministry barriers by aligning environmental, reconciliation, and economic priorities—reducing contradictory policies and delays that paralyze the sector.
- Immediately release ready-to-sell BCTS volumes to get wood flowing to mills today—not months from now.
- Support First Nations with the capacity and tools to expedite referrals, co-develop land use plans, and increase revenue sharing—so that partnerships can move at the speed of opportunity.
The best way to support forest workers is to keep mills operating and people working. We want to retain forestry workers, not retrain them. With practical, coordinated action—like activating timber sales, fast-tracking permits, and cutting through regulatory gridlock—BC can send a clear signal: we are serious about rebuilding a competitive, sustainable forest sector that works for people, communities, and the planet.
The province has the tools—and COFI is ready to roll up our sleeves and work alongside government to put them to use.
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Media Contact:
Travis Joern, Director of Communications, COFI
778-846-3465, Joern@cofi.org
www.cofi.org