With the dust from the provincial election mostly settled, the BC Business Council is urging the province to help the struggling forestry sector.
In a statement on Friday the council said it is deeply concerned about the future of BC’s second-largest export industry. They say provincial policy and regulation changes, a declining annual allowable cut, softwood tariffs, and volatile prices are eating away at the sector.
That’s hurting communities around the province, they say, which are already struggling with affordability and the rising cost of living.
A strong natural resources sector, including forestry, is fundamental to prosperity, the council says. They ask the province to hold off on any policy changes that could significantly impact the sector in the near future, and focus on bringing it back to health.