The provincial government is investing millions of dollars to strengthen the B.C. forestry sector amid an economy deeply challenged by the U.S. trade war.
Speaking from a wood door manufacturing plant in Burnaby Monday, Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar announced $16.7 million to fund trade diversification and support the use of B.C. wood locally and abroad.
Parmar cited U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of “completely radical, senseless tariffs on our wood products” and already “unjustified duties on our softwood exports years earlier” as imparting an “invaluable lesson.”
“We can no longer rely on a single trading partner,” said Parmar.
“Otherwise, our workers will end up in this position over and over again.”
The new investments break down into approximately $12 million to expand global demand for B.C. wood and $4 million to bolster its use throughout B.C.
Parmar explained that the provincial Crown agency Forestry Innovation Investment (FII) will contribute the majority of the investment, with the remainder supported by industry partners.
Efforts to increase market demand reportedly include research, building code development, trade missions, and targeting new sectors for growth.
“The premier travelled to the other side of the world to find us new opportunities, while I led the largest team of forestry leaders in British Columbia’s history,” Parmar boasted.
“To show the world that British Columbia is offering only the highest quality, most sustainable wood products from mass timber to wood trusses to prefabricated housing and everything in between. We built partnerships across these countries. Signing MOUs and agreements has secured the use of BC Wood in international industries.”
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Domestically, he says efforts include supporting architects, developers, and local governments, and training and education to help designers “move quicker” on wood-based projects.
“We’ll ensure that commercial buildings, stadiums, government facilities, and grand halls in every corner of this globe have B.C. wood holding it up.”
Parmar says the provincial government continues to dispute the notion that Canadian wood products somehow threaten U.S. national security, which Trump’s administration claims to support the tariffs.