By Kate Bouey

Help needed for forest industry, says MLA

Dec 30, 2019 | 9:15 AM

Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster is fearful B.C.’s forest industry is in for more shocks in 2020 without more assistance from province’s NDP government.

The Liberal, who sits in opposition in Victoria, accused the government of “doing nothing” while mills close or reduce shifts.

Last month, Vernon-based Tolko Industries announced the permanent closure of its Kelowna mill on Jan. 8, 2020 with 174 employees served severance notices.

Foster said the company has been a “big spender” in Kelowna.

While local logging contractors continue to operate, the MLA says he’s been told by many of them they are worried Tolko may close down its Armstrong mill for another month or that shifts may be curtailed at operations in Canoe and at Gorman Bros. in West Kelowna.

Wildfire Risks

Okanagan's Fire Danger Rating already up to Moderate

19h ago

Structure Fire Response

VFRS undertaking annual structure fire training

22h ago

Beaver Lake and Vernon Creek Watershed Improvements

Lake Country taking action to support water management, flows at area watershed

Apr 22, 2026

Foster is once again calling on the province to lower stumpage rates and on Forests Minister Doug Donaldson to go into communities hit by shutdowns to find how the government can help ease the situation.

He points to what’s happening on Vancouver Island, which has experienced a recent mill closure and, further North, a crippling strike at a Western Forest Products operation that is in the hands of mediators.

“We have folks who are going to lose their homes, they’ve had equipment repossessed,” said Foster, asking what Christmas would have been like in those homes.

On Dec. 23, the province announced some cash for 11 Interior communities where mill workers and their families have been affected by permanent or indefinite shutdowns and shift reductions.

The $875,000 will help communities with delivery of transition services and supports to the workers.

The City of Kelowna is getting a $100,000 grant due to the Tolko mill closure.

Workers at other Tolko operations in B.C. are in the midst of two more weeks of unpaid downtime, with the company blaming the move on market conditions and the high price of logs.

by Kate Bouey

View Comments