Forestry industry gets $129 million
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Premier Gordon Campbell announces how federal money for the ailing forestry industry will be spent. Jeremy Deutsch/KTW
The provincial government believes it has come up with a response that will help the troubled forest industry and its workers get past the current downturn.
On Friday, Premier Gordon Campbell was in Kamloops to announce plans for $129 million promised by Ottawa earlier this year, which will be used to set up three new programs aimed at helping workers and communities hit hard by an ailing forest industry.
The first is $17.25 million for a tuition-assistance fund that will give workers facing layoffs the opportunity to upgrade their skills and education.
The funding will cover tuition costs to a maximum of $5,000 per worker for one year.
Individuals can apply to the fund beginning May 15.
The second is $85.5 million to provide transitional assistance for retiring older workers. Individuals can apply to the fund through a secretariat by mid June.
Another $26.25 million will go toward a job-opportunities program that will support silviculture and reforestation in urban areas, forest and fuel management and other forestry programs to provide short-term employment opportunities.
The Northern towns of Mackenzie and Fort St. James will get $2 million in direct assistance.
“We are trying to build an opportunity that provides workers with the understanding that they are the critical part of what our forest industry is in our province,” Campbell said.
Campbell made the announcement during an address at the Interior Logging Association’s 50th annual trades convention at TRU.
The feds promised $1 billion through the Community Development Trust for funding across Canada to aid suffering industrial sectors including the forest industry.
But the provincial Opposition isn’t impressed.
Bob Simpson, the NDP’s forest critic, called the announcement a “crock” and said the premier is being disingenuous.
Simpson questions why no provincial money is being contributed to the program.
“When you look at transitioning older workers out, $129 million doesn’t go very far,” he said.
Simpson has concerns the industry is now being gutted of its workers, and worries there won’t be any if and when the industry rebounds.
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