The Conservative Party of B.C. has issued a statement claiming that, in light of the closure of the mill in 100 Mile House, the NDP is destroying the province’s softwood industry.
On Nov. 7, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Lorne Doerkson, as well as forestry critic and Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer, pointed blame at the B.C. NDP and Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar for the closure of West Fraser Timber’s 100 Mile House mill.
Doerkson believes that the decline in B.C.’s softwood production that is now hitting the South Cariboo is what happens “when government ignores the warning sign that is coming from the forest sector.”
“One hundred and sixty-five people in 100 Mile House just lost their jobs,” Doerkson said. “That’s 165 families wondering how they’ll pay their bills and whether they can stay in their own community. The ripple effect will hit every business on main street, from the gas stations and restaurants to the grocery stores.”
In a statement posted to X (Twitter) on Nov. 6, Parmar said that he was heartbroken over the decision by West Fraser, that he could not imagine the fear and anger that forestry workers and families in 100 Mile House had to be feeling.
“To the workers affected – I want you to know that we are not going to give up on you.” Parmar wrote in the statement. “I’ve spoken directly with West Fraser and have been assured that they will look after their employees and work to find them opportunities at other operations across the Cariboo.”
Parmar also blamed U.S. President Donald Trump for the closure, saying it was “another consequence” of what Parmar calls Trump’s unfair attack on Canada’s forestry sector.
“His tariffs are hurting workers, families and communities on both sides of the border,” Parmar wrote. “These tariffs further exacerbate the challenges and pressures the forestry sector is already facing, such as the end of the mountain pine beetle harvest, recent unprecedented wildfires and climate change.”
West Fraser Timber also announced on Nov. 6 that it would permanently close its Augusta, Georgia lumber mill before the end of 2025.
Parmar said that the 100 Mile mill closure is a stark reminder for the federal government to live up to the commitment to people in B.C. and to ensure that the province receives its fair share of forestry support dollars.
“Our government stands with the people of 100 Mile House, and we will never stop fighting for forestry workers and the communities that depend on them,” Parmar wrote.
Doerkson said that Ravi Parnar’s thoughts and prayers are not enough for families facing unimaginable hardship.
“The minister thinks the answer is shipping workers to other operations, but who’s hiring under these circumstances? It’s an empty gesture that avoids the real issue while still blaming Donald Trump, the pine beetle, or anyone but themselves. This government was warned and refused to act,” stated Doerkson.
He then accused the NDP of continuing to deflect blame instead of fixing what it controls here in B.C.
“The government keeps pointing fingers at Ottawa while ignoring failures in its own backyard,” Doerkson said. “Instead of hiding behind the federal government, the NDP should set measurable goals and deliver a real plan to protect jobs and secure fibre access. The minister says this is a stark reminder to the federal government. No, Minister, it’s a stark reminder to you.”
Conservative forest critic and Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer called the closure “devastating.”
“Alarm bells were ringing long before the tariffs,” Stamer said. “The industry warned about permitting delays, rising costs, and shrinking fibre access, all ignored by this government. The Minister is just as responsible, because it’s his government’s restrictive policies that got us here in the first place. Their so-called ‘Path to 45’ has become a path to collapse. Harvests have dropped from 60 million cubic metres to barely 30 million, and the damage is spreading.”
He said that Premier David Eby admits forestry is one of the largest employers and contributors to B.C.’s GDP, something which Eby had stated during the BC Forest Summit in Vancouver on Nov. 4, however, Stamer believs “the government refuses to act on that reality.”