NDP to blame: Liberals

Photo: Contributed

The BC Liberals blasted the NDP saying the ruling party is not doing enough in the wake of the forestry downturn.

In a press release sent out Wednesday afternoon, the Liberals said the NDP forestry announcement made Tuesday did not help the industry.

On Wednesday, Tolko Industries announced it was reducing stud capacity by 20 per cent at its Soda Creek and Armstrong lumber mills, citing increased costs that have eroded competitiveness.

“Yesterday’s forestry announcement does nothing to drive down costs and help existing producers stay competitive,” said BC Liberal Forestry Critic and Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad. “This is nothing new from John Horgan and the NDP as they continue to ignore the plight of forestry-dependent families while the industry struggles. As workers and contractors also fight to stay afloat, the industry continues to drown due to NDP policies.”

Rural Development Critic and Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett blasted the NDP saying Williams Lake and the Cariboo Region have been hardest hit by the forest industry crisis and “we can’t afford any further reductions. It’s important to have a plan for early retirement for older workers, but yesterday’s announcement contained nothing that will help current forestry workers stay in the industry and make it competitive once again.”

Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo also got in a jab, saying the NDP’s assistance program for forestry is too little too late to prevent further layoffs and mill reductions.

“Job losses will continue and communities will suffer more unless this NDP government comes up with a plan to make our forest industry competitive once again. We aren’t seeing mill closures in Alberta or other neighbouring jurisdictions. This government’s current policies and increased taxes are killing the global competitiveness of B.C.’s world-class facilities,said Kylo.