The City of Fort St. John is supporting an initiative aimed at strengthening British Columbia’s forestry industry and protecting the sector’s role in local economies.
During Monday’s regular council meeting, council received a response from B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar regarding the city’s support for the “Forestry is a Solution” initiative, led by the B.C. Council of Forest Industries.
The initiative promotes the importance of forestry across the province, including supporting jobs, improving forest management and creating more opportunities within the industry.
Fort St. John Mayor Lilia Hansen said forestry continues to play an important role in the economic stability of communities across B.C.
“Recent mill curtailments and closures, including impacts felt locally, have emphasized the importance of maintaining a competitive, sustainable forest sector that supports employment, local economies and long-term provincial prosperity,” Hansen said.
Hansen said council supports the goals of the initiative, including improving the efficiency and predictability of forestry approvals, modernizing timber sales and strengthening partnerships with First Nations.
The city also highlighted the importance of active forest management to reduce wildfire risks and expanding value-added opportunities within the sector.
“The City of Fort St. John appreciates the Province’s continued work with industry, Indigenous partners and local governments and encourages ongoing collaboration to ensure forestry remains a strategic asset for British Columbia and the communities that depend on it,” Hansen said.
In response, Parmar thanked the city for its advocacy and said the province recognizes the need to support a more resilient and competitive forestry sector.
“The province acknowledges the urgency to act and remains committed to building a more resilient, sustainable and competitive forest sector,” Parmar said.
Parmar said the province is working on several initiatives, including improving the permitting process, exploring a working forest model to better understand land-use priorities and reducing administrative and regulatory barriers facing the industry.
The province is also moving forward with recommendations from the BC Timber Sales Review, including expanding BC Timber Sales.
Parmar added that collaboration with First Nations remains an important part of the province’s forestry strategy.
“The Province continues to deliver forestry revenue-sharing arrangements with First Nations across B.C. as part of ongoing efforts to support shared economic participation in the forest sector,” Parmar said.
The city said continued collaboration between governments, industry and Indigenous partners will be key to ensuring forestry remains a major contributor to communities across British Columbia.
