🔨1. Defend the Backbone

Immediate Action to Stabilize the Industry:

Establish a Lobby for Fair Trade: Launch a federal-level initiative demanding immediate renegotiation of softwood lumber tariffs with the U.S. while championing the full enforcement of interprovincial free trade by July 1, 2025.

Fight to Remove GST on Raw Timber Sales: Eliminate the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on all base commodity timber sales, leaving GST intact on finished products. This change will free up millions of dollars for timber producers and mill operators—money that can be reinvested in expanding operations, keeping workers employed, and innovating processes. It’s a bold move to put confidence and capital back into the hands of those who build our economy. Further to have the Logging taxes reduced to 5%, down from the current 10%.

Emergency Stabilization Fund: Push for a $500M federal/provincial joint stabilization fund to support struggling mills, prevent further closures, and provide retraining for affected workers.

🌲 2. Build Domestic Demand

Make Timber a Proud Canadian Resource:

Secure a Domestic Market through Housing: Partner directly with the federal housing initiative (Mark Carney’s 500,000 homes/year) to prioritize BC lumber in procurement contracts.

“Canadian Wood, Canadian Homes” Branding Campaign: A national awareness and marketing campaign that positions Cariboo–Prince George lumber as the cornerstone of Canada's new housing future.

🧠 3. Diversify & Innovate

Create New Markets, Products, and Profits:

Timber Innovation & Bioeconomy Hub: Establish a research and manufacturing hub in Cariboo–Prince George to develop and produce:
- Engineered wood products (CLT, glulam, etc.)
- Wood-based bioplastics and biodegradable packaging
- Pulp-based textiles and eco-paper
- Biofuels from wood waste
- Zero Waste Industry Mandate: Invest in technology to ensure 100% of harvested timber is used across product streams — no waste, just opportunity.

🏭 4. Attract Investment, Build Infrastructure

Turn Cariboo–Prince George into a Timber Manufacturing Powerhouse:

Fight for Tax Incentives & Grants: Offer aggressive tax credits, fast-tracked permitting, and low-interest loans for companies willing to invest in:
- Reopening or upgrading mills
- Building secondary manufacturing facilities (furniture, prefabricated housing, etc.)
- Establishing green tech-based timber processing plants

Establish Economic Opportunity Zones: Designate key areas as Timber Investment Zones with accelerated infrastructure investment and broadband upgrades to support industry growth.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 5. Inspire the Community

Build Pride and Participation:

“Wood is Wealth” Education Campaign: Launch school programs and community showcases to highlight career paths, innovation, and sustainability in forestry.

Forestry Co-Op Training Programs: Partner with local colleges and Indigenous communities to establish practical co-op training for next-gen forestry workers, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

Community-Owned Micro-Mills:Support small-town cooperatives to establish micro-mills and small-batch production for specialty markets (e.g., heritage restoration, furniture, arts).

🛠 Let’s Get to Work

This is more than an industry—we’re talking about the identity and future of our region. Cariboo–Prince George doesn’t just supply timber—we craft the future of Canada with it.