BRITISH COLUMBIA – A new economic study released recently by the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) shows that BC’s forest industry continues to generate significant economic activity in every region of the province.
“This study demonstrates again that BC’s forest products sector is an important part of the provincial economy, putting paychecks in people’s pockets, helping small businesses pay their bills and supporting a good quality of life for British Columbians,” said Susan Yurkovich, President and CEO, BC Council of Forest Industries. “The industry contributes to the well-being of communities from the Cariboo to the Northeast, from the Island to the Lower Mainland and Southwest part of our province, where nearly half the jobs supported by the forest sector are located.”
The study that measured the economic impact of BC’s forest industry across the province was led by Kurt Niquidet, COFI’s Chief Economist and Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia. The data was largely sourced from Statistics Canada. PwC conducted a review of the methodology and confirmed the accuracy of the results.
“BC’s forest industry is, and will continue to, provide opportunities and benefits for British Columbians for decades to come,” said Katrine Conroy, BC’s Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. “We look forward to continuing to work with First Nations, industry, labour and communities to ensure a healthy, resilient sector.”
“The forest sector is critically important to BC’s economy, and most importantly to the close to 50,000 British Columbians, including 12,000 USW members, who work directly in the sector proudly producing renewable, low-carbon wood products for the world,” said Jeff Bromley, Chair, Wood Council Canada, United Steelworkers.
Included in that large workforce are over 5,300 Indigenous people who are directly employed in the industry, more than any other resource sector in BC Indigenous communities are also vital industry partners as owners, and through business and stewardship partnerships.
Our agreement with Western Forest Products enables Huu-ay-aht to have more jurisdiction over our ḥahuułi (traditional territory), strengthen the long-term sustainability of the forest sector in the Alberni Region, provide strong environmental stewardship that aligns with Huu-ay-aht’s forestry guiding principles, and create more opportunities for First Nations, including our citizens,” said Chief Councillor Robert J. Dennis Sr., Huu-ay-aht First Nations.
In addition to jobs directly tied to forestry operation, thousands of BC-based companies – small, medium and large – are in the business of supplying goods and services to the forest industry.
“Our forest industry partners rely on our drone technology to provide accurate information to make forest and mill operations more efficient and sustainable. Our solutions are being used by foresters and mill operators across North America as a direct result of the success here in BC,” said Mike Wilcox, co-Founder Vancouver-based FYBR.
The study found that other businesses across BC – from restaurants to corner stores – also rely on a healthy forest sector. That’s because workers employed by the forest product companies and industry suppliers spend their paychecks in their local communities, helping keep local businesses operating.
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