B.C. First Nation seeks say in forestry sector after Canfor mill closure announced

A British Columbia First Nations leader says the province needs to rethink its approach to the forestry industry in light of Canfor Corp.’s decision to close two sawmills and leave 500 workers out of work.

Nak’azdli Whut’en Chief Colleen Erickson says First Nations need to play a bigger role in the future of the industry in B.C. because Indigenous entities wouldn’t “send their profits elsewhere” like companies that aren’t headquartered locally would.

Erickson’s comments Friday come after Canfor announced it would close plants in Vanderhoof, B.C., and Fort St. John, B.C., by the end of the year.

The Vancouver-based company says the challenge of accessing economically viable wood for fiber, continued financial losses, weak lumber markets and a sharp increase last month in U.S. tariffs all played a role in the decision.

But Erickson says most First Nations people in the area weren’t surprised that Canfor could no longer access affordable fibre because of what she calls “unsustainable” harvesting practices.

She also says an industry that involves more First Nations wouldn’t close plants in B.C. or invest elsewhere because local community members “aren’t going anywhere.”

“I think most people have come to that (conclusion) because they can just close their doors and go somewhere else to harvest their forest, and everybody is basically left to fend for themselves (here),” Erickson said.

“They have no solution. There is no obligation for them to use part of the profits to help people diversify. If things were local, it would be a local debate.”

The call for more local management of forest resources has been echoed by unions, including the Prince George, B.C., local of the Steelworkers, whose members represent 325 of the 500 jobs lost in the closures.

“The government needs to make a better effort to decide what vision it has for the industry in B.C.,” Scott Lunny, the union’s Western Canada district director, said in a previous statement.

“If Canfor doesn’t do it, we need to find a company that will invest in British Columbia.”

Geoff Dawe, national president of the Public and Private Sector Workers of Canada, says that while his union members are not directly affected, he agrees that companies that do not invest in local communities should lose their forest tenure rights.

“The government needs to step in and say, ‘Look, if you’re not going to use this right, then we need to give it to someone who will,’” Dawe says. “Because we have a community here, and it’s their job to look out for their best interests.”

The provincial industry group BC Council of Forest Industries said that in light of the Canfor closures, reaching new agreements with First Nations is one of the province’s top priorities to safeguard the future of the sector.

“New approaches to First Nations management, forest land tenure, treaties, equity and investment will support economic reconciliation and build stronger partnerships with Indigenous communities,” council CEO Linda Coady said in a previous release.

But the group also says the province must also “provide a reliable supply of fibre to the industry.”

Erickson says this is where the province needs to engage more with First Nations, as she believes her community is more informed about sustainable local forest management than other communities elsewhere.

“It’s very frustrating that it’s come to this,” she said. “But we certainly need to look at what resources are left and see how we can do better.”

“We absolutely have to do something different.”

— Chuck Chiang in Vancouver

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 6, 2024.

The Canadian Press