In many ways, 2019 has been a rough year for Canada`s forestry industry, particularly in B.C. The ongoing softwood lumber dispute in the U.S., challenging market conditions and high log prices led to low softwood lumber prices and sales, as Madison`s Lumber Reporter informed readers weekly. Most of Canada`s major lumber producers posted lower profits or losses in 2019. In B.C., nine sawmills closed permanently, while another 26 took downtime.

These mill curtailments have not only impacted sawmill workers, but also logging contractors throughout the province. In September, over 400 logging trucks made their way to Vancouver to protest forestry job losses in the province. While the provincial government announced initiatives such as the Coast Forest Sector Revitalization Initiative, the Interior Forest Sector Renewal process, and $69 million in aid to support Interior B.C. forest workers impacted by the crisis, thousands have lost their jobs and communities are feeling the impact. Compounding matters on the coast, thousands of workers have been out of work for more than six months due to an ongoing labour dispute between Western Forest Products and the United Steelworkers union representing forestry workers.


Source: www.woodbusiness.ca