Two projects in Northeast British Columbia are set to receive new provincial funding aimed at supporting the forestry sector. However, for those impacted by recent mill closures, the assistance may come too little, too late.
NorthPac Forestry will receive just over a million dollars for two fibre supply projects.
The Fort Nelson Hardwood Fire Salvage, a joint partnership with the Fort Nelson First Nation, and the Fort St. John Pulp Utilization Program will help bolster the supply of fibre that would otherwise be burned or abandoned.
The funding is being provided through the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC), which has allocated a total of $28 million across 74 fibre-recovery and wildfire mitigation projects throughout the province.
“In tough times, I want workers in our forest sector to know I’ve got their back,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “Whether it’s better utilizing existing sources of fibre or helping protect communities from wildfire, the projects are supporting workers and companies as they develop new and innovative forest practices.”
The Ministry of Forests says the efforts are part of an initiative to create jobs and support the resource sector in the face of U.S. tariff threats and “unjustified softwood lumber duties.”
Since April 2024, provincial funding to FESBC has resulted in the delivery of 44,000 logging truckloads worth of fibre, according to the ministry.
In September of 2024, the City of Fort St. John saw 220 jobs lost when Canfor announced the closure of its sawmill. The company cited challenges in accessing economic fibre as one of the main reasons behind the closure.
