The province is investing $2 million to launch Make More in B.C., a new initiative aimed at creating regional economic hubs that will protect existing forestry workers, generate new jobs, and extract more value from every tree.
The money will support the creation of regional economic hubs, with the first located in the Merritt Timber Supply Area in partnership with Gorman Bros. Lumber out of West Kelowna.
Forestry Minister Ravi Parmar was at Gorman Bros. Lumber on Tuesday, May 12, announcing that the project will help shift the industry away from boom-and-bust cycles and the country’s dependence on the United States.
“The Make More in B.C. project is about building a stronger, more resilient forest sector that is never again dependent on a single trading partner like the United States,” said Parmar. “We cannot allow forestry workers and communities to remain vulnerable to duties, tariffs, and global uncertainty. We need to make more in B.C., create more jobs in B.C., and build a future that keeps more value here at home.”
This new project will focus on collaboration with mills, manufacturers, First Nations, and other communities to help unlock wood fibre supply and develop higher-value wood products such as mass timber and prefabricated homes.
Gorman Bros. Lumber CEO Nick Arkle has been a key part of the initiative, finding success by bringing together like-minded forestry colleagues to discuss how this work can benefit businesses in B.C.
Arkle said the initiative is about a region finding the balance between long-term generational stewardship on the land and economic, social, and cultural interests.
“With First Nations and communities guiding the stewardship portion, the goal is to seek greater security of a sustainable and affordable fibre flow that will, in turn, encourage investment and innovation to produce higher value end products along with additional products such as wood residues into the forest-based bio economy,” said Arkle.
The forestry sector in B.C. creates approximately 100,000 direct and indirect jobs but faces challenges from U.S. tariffs, downturns in the market due to affordability, and reduced supply.
The new hubs aim to reduce raw log exports and keep more jobs in the province.
B.C. is the third largest exporter of softwood lumber in the world.