August 3rd, 2023 — Prince George, BC: “This BC NDP government’s inability to get forestry permits done is killing well paid union jobs, and independent jobs, all across British Columbia. Just yesterday, Nechako Lumber announced a curtailment which will affect up to 60 jobs in Vanderhoof. Forestry operations in Merritt, Houston, Chetwynd, Prince George, and many others across BC are also suffering from uncertainty caused by government.

This is wrong. No British Columbian should be losing their job because of government dropping the ball.

British Columbia is built on the sweat of miners, mill workers, steelworkers, farmers, ranchers, longshore workers, truckers, factory workers — hardworking British Columbians who shower at the end of the day, rather than at the beginning.

These hardworking British Columbians build our roads and bridges, grow our food, move our goods, and make our economy work. Without them, we would get nowhere.

Sadly, our BC NDP government seems to have forgotten the meaning of the term “workers movement”.

Independent workers and union members — particularly workers in our natural resource industries — are being sold out by a government that is too focused on Downtown Victoria and Vancouver to care about issuing permits to keep British Columbia’s mills open in places like Vanderhoof, Houston, Chetwynd, Prince George, and many others all across BC.

I remember working in BC’s forestry industry — it’s hard work but, unlike many jobs today, most jobs in natural resources can feed a family. When I was a forestry worker, it fed mine.

It’s time for this NDP government to reverse course on its anti-worker agenda. British Columbia needs a government that uses common sense and is willing to fight for the well paid union jobs, and independent jobs, that support everyday working families in BC.”

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For more information or media inquiries, please contact: randy.roy@leg.bc.ca