Municipal, provincial and federal leaders from the North Island share concerns about the current state of the area’s forestry sector.
This from North Island-Powell River MP Aaron Gunn, who recently spoke on some of the challenges the local forestry sector is facing at this week’s UBCM Convention in Victoria.
Gunn, North Island MLA Anna Kindy and the mayors of Campbell River, Port Hardy, Powell River, Sayward, Gold River, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Alert Bay have sent a letter to B.C. Premier David Eby and Prime Minister Mark Carney to call on the provincial and federal governments to take action.
The letter from the group of North Island politicians indicates harvests on the coast have dropped 40 per cent since 2019, and reports over 5,400 job losses since 2022.
North Island-Powell River MP Aaron Gunn comments:
“This is the results, not of tariffs or Donald Trump, of course those are exacerbating the situation,” Gunn explains. “These are made in B.C. and made in Canada policies that have led to delayed permitting, increased harvesting costs and a real crippled investor confidence.”
He’s thankful to have support from his local provincial and municipal peers, and was happy all could put their political differences aside in order to work toward a solution.
North Island-Powell River MP Aaron Gunn comments:
“To be able to stand there and put aside any other differences we might have and show a united front on this issue that’s so important for the residents, the communities and the families that we represent, I think speaks volumes,” says Gunn.
The North Island-Powell River MP adds nine mills have shut down on the coast since 2018, and worries one more closure could have devastating impacts for those who work in forestry.
See a copy of the letter below:
– Article includes files and image supplied by North Island-Powell River Aaron Gunn’s X account
