Photo: Rob Gibson

The provincial government has responded to the recent permanent closure of Kelowna's Tolko lumber mill, after the BC Liberals lambasted the current NDP government on the forestry file.

After announcing an “indefinite” closure in September, Tolko confirmed last week that the North End mill would be permanently closed in January.

The company blamed market conditions and log costs for the closure.

Following the decision, Ben Stewart, Liberal MLA for Kelowna West, said the government has been “completely ignoring rural British Columbia and the forest sector,” and called for the firing of Forestry Minister Doug Donaldson.

On Tuesday, Ravi Kahlon, parliamentary secretary for the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, said he was “disappointed” to hear about the mill's closure.

"I want people to know that this government is working hard to make sure support is delivered to forestry workers, contractors and communities like Kelowna that have been affected,” Kahlon said.

He pointed to the government's forest worker support programs that can be accessed online, which include a retirement bridging program, job placement co-ordination, skills training and community support grants.

Kahlon says ministry staff have reached out to the City of Kelowna about accessing community support grants.