Forestry workers and contractors in Northeast B.C. are expected to benefit from a major new provincial support program aimed at offsetting the impacts of tariffs and global market pressures.
The B.C. government has announced a $20.8‑million forestry workers support grant, designed to help workers, employers and forestry‑dependent communities respond quickly to disruptions in the sector.
The funding will be delivered throughout the province in partnership with the Northern Development Initiative Trust, which focuses on economic development in northern and rural B.C.
The province says the grant is expected to support as many as 1,400 forestry workers, including those in Peace Region communities such as Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and surrounding areas.
Funding will be used for worker retention, wage supports, training, and community‑led projects that create local employment opportunities.
According to the Ministry of Forests, the program is intended to help keep skilled workers employed while strengthening forest‑dependent economies facing market uncertainty and trade challenges.
It also allows funding to be combined with contracts and training programs, expanding options for workers and contractors to remain active in the industry.
The forestry support grant is part of a broader federal‑provincial workforce response initiative designed to stabilize regional economies and protect jobs in northern British Columbia, where forestry remains a key economic driver.