Several years back, the region’s lumber sector was on its knees in hitting rock bottom during the global economic meltdown, forcing many workers to pack their bags for resource jobs in Alberta. That appears to be history now with lumber markets shooting up, in part thanks to soaring demand in U-S markets where home building is on the upswing. Jet News spoke with Steelworkers senior official Rick Wangler in Courtenay, who says the union is seeing workers being called back.
The latest positive report comes from Export Development Canada, saying last year BC lumber exports shot up by 14 percent, and this year are expected to increase by 15 per cent, while in 2015, exports are forecast to rise an even 10 percent.
