Forestry grant supporting workers affected by tariffs

Press Release

April 30, 2026

VICTORIA –

Summary

• A nearly $21-million forestry workers support grant will help as many as 1,400 forestry workers, contractors and employers experiencing impacts from duties, tariffs
• The grant is delivered throughout the province in partnership with the Northern Development Initiative Trust
• Funding will support upskilling, worker retention and wage support, while delivering local projects that create jobs and strengthen forest-dependent economies

Forestry workers, employers and communities throughout British Columbia are receiving targeted assistance through a forestry workers support grant, a $20.8-million investment to help employers and communities respond quickly to the needs of the sector, by providing funds for worker retention, wage support and job-creating local projects.

“There are serious global pressures impacting forestry workers in B.C., including unfair and punishing duties and tariffs driven by U.S. President Donald Trump,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. “We are not backing down, we’re going to fight like hell to defend our forestry jobs. The new forestry workers support grant is one tool we’re taking action on right now to protect jobs today.”

Investing in workforce stability

Delivered through the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT), the grant helps forestry workers, employers and communities respond to sector disruptions. The grant is anticipated to support 1,400 forestry workers.

The grant will support:

• rapid re-employment and skills training opportunities for forestry workers, to ensure they stay working
• wage subsidies and workforce-stabilization supports to help retain workers, support business adaptation and enable diversification into new or expanded areas of work
• community-led projects that generate good-paying jobs and help communities build local resilience

The grant will make land-based or operational contracts available through BC Bid. The grant can be stacked to include funding for worker training, wage or workforce supports alongside contract work, directly supporting the work of loggers and contractors in B.C.

The grant is not limited to Crown land projects or BC Bid opportunities. This will allow workers, contractors and businesses to pursue a wide range of local and regional employment options.

Inspired by the Forest Employment Program, the forestry grant offers many of the same benefits to support contractors and their workers, supporting employment and retention, and keeps job opportunities accessible through BC Bid.

Turning training into job opportunities

The forestry grant will create new opportunities for workers to stay employed and find new opportunities, through local projects and programs.

The Province has completed Labour Market Training programs in Wildfire and Integrated Natural Resources Training around Kamloops, Langley, Cranbrook, Prince George and Nanaimo.

The youth-focused programming provided training to prepare as many as 120 youth for employment in the natural resources sector. Training included field assessment skills, species identification, Indigenous ecological knowledge and tools operation, as well as certification in wildfire suppression and safety.

Delivering rapid, on‑the‑ground support for workers

The forestry grant is part of the Government of B.C.’s and Canada’s Workforce Tariff Response initiative, which confirmed $70.4 million over three years in federal funding in March 2026. Delivered over three years, the initiative will support more than 8,000 workers, including more than 1,400 forestry workers and other workers in forestry communities affected by tariffs and market disruptions throughout British Columbia.

Through this federal and provincial partnership, employment supports include:

• helping workers stay connected to jobs, access training and transition support
• strengthening regional economies by investing in workforce stability, skills development and community-led projects that generate employment in impacted regions

Actions are underway to support workers:

• leveraging Community Transition tables in forestry communities to identify and act on immediate needs for workers and communities
• ramping up staffing to offer more direct services to affected workers, while rolling out new responsive programming quickly
• co-ordinating with WorkBC to reach workers early and connect them to available supports

The NDIT is a non-profit economic development corporation that partners with communities, employers and First Nations to foster sustainable economic growth throughout northern and rural British Columbia. Through community-driven investments, NDIT supports workforce development, business diversification and regional resilience by delivering flexible, on-the-ground programs that respond quickly to local needs and create long-term economic opportunities.

The forestry grant builds on $10 million in recent investments to support forestry workers and contractors announced in Budget 2026. Through the Wildfire Reduction Equipment Support Trust, targeted support is available for forestry contractors to buy logging equipment for wildfire risk reduction projects. The Forestry Service Providers Compensation Fund supports logging and silvicultural contractors and nurseries that were not paid for forestry services on provincial lands by insolvent companies.

The forestry grant, Wildfire Reduction Equipment Support Trust and Forestry Service Providers Compensation Fund are supporting forestry contractors and workers with more than $30 million in investments.

Learn More:

• To learn more about B.C.’s tariff response, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/tariffs/
• To learn more about B.C.’s LookWest plan to deliver jobs and prosperity in B.C., visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/look-west-strategy
• To learn more about the Workforce Tariff Response, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2026/03/governments-of-canada-and-british-columbia-partner-to-support-tariff-impacted-workers-and-strengthen-the-workforce.html
• To learn more about the Northern Development Initiative Trust, visit: https://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Ministry of Forests
Media Relations
Forest.Media@gov.bc.ca
250-380-8491

BACKGROUNDER

Sheila Malcolmson, B.C.’s Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction –

“Forestry workers, families and communities in British Columbia are facing real uncertainty because of global tariffs and they deserve support they can count on. We’re funding the Northern Development Initiative Trust to help people build skills and move into new opportunities quickly. Thank you to our federal partners for working with us to support people and strengthen British Columbian communities.”

Patty Hajdu, federal Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario –

“Canada thrives when workers are prepared to meet current and emerging opportunities. As the global landscape is shifting rapidly and as challenges arise, this investment will ensure that workers in the forestry sector receive the support they need to thrive. This will protect local economies and build a Canada Strong for all, where nobody is left behind.”

Ben Campbell, chief executive officer, Northern Development Initiative Trust –

“Administering this new funding for B.C. will result in real, positive impacts for community members who have based their livelihoods in the forestry sector. Northern Development is honoured to be administering another partner program on behalf of the Province of B.C. to increase our collective impact to residents and communities. Our mission is to stimulate entrepreneurial activity and community resiliency, and this funding program provides a new, substantial avenue to build a stronger province.”

Peter Lister, executive director, Truck Loggers Association –

“The Truck Loggers Association is pleased the Ministry of Forests is taking meaningful steps to address the immediate needs of forestry contractors and workers facing ongoing challenges. This targeted support for training and retention is critical to keeping highly skilled and highly sought after forestry workers in the sector and forestry-dependent communities. While we don’t want to see our members transition out of the forest industry, building skills that allow them to take on a broader range of forestry work is a positive and practical step forward.”

Chuck Leblanc, interim president, Public and Private Workers Canada –

”With the current uncertainty in the forestry industry, our members and their communities need critical, timely supports in place to ease the pressures that many are facing. This announcement is welcome news for our forestry workers who deserve support and opportunity.”

Jeff Bromley, chair, USW (United Steelworkers) Wood Council –

“This initiative is something that forestry workers who are impacted by the current turmoil that continues to affect our members in communities across B.C., sorely need. In times of crisis, workers and communities need support from the provincial government and this is a great example of that.”

Contact:

Ministry of Forests
Media Relations
Forest.Media@gov.bc.ca
250-380-8491

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