VICTORIA, British Columbia — A pair of Vancouver Island wood products manufacturers will receive up to total of $8 from the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund to increase production through British Columbia’s Look West economic strategy.
According to the British Columbia government, Western Forest Products’ value-added division in Chemainus will receive as much as $7.5 million toward installing two continuous dry kilns to expand high-value products and create new opportunities for second-growth hemlock to produce higher value products.
Island TimberFrame of Cumberland will receive as much as $325,000 to increase expand production to expand and diversify its high-value structural mass timber and wood finishing products through the purchase and installation of new advanced manufacturing equipment.
“Tariffs from the United States are severely impacting our forestry sector and putting the pay cheques of the hard-working British Columbians that depend on it into jeopardy,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth. “As part of our Look West goal of tripling B.C. wood in construction over the next 10 years, we’re supporting two wood manufacturers to pivot faster to higher-value products that will help them reach more reliable markets and customers, while protecting jobs in forestry-dependent communities.”
“These investments are vital to our company, employees and the communities where we operate,” said Steven Hofer, president and CEO of Western Forest Products. “They enhance our ability to add value to harvested timber and support family-sustaining jobs – from the seedlings we grow to the products we send to global markets.”
“Support from the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund will help Island TimberFrame expand exports and domestic supply of value-added wood products by investing in production systems and advanced manufacturing equipment,” said Carl Tessmann, partner of Island TimberFrame. ”The result of these funds will strengthen partnerships with First Nations and wood suppliers across British Columbia, while creating skilled employment in our rural community.”
Since 2023, the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund program has committed nearly $91 million in support of 75 forest product manufacturers. The BC government says the funding is leading to more than $590 million in total investment and has created or protected more than 3,500 jobs, many in regional, remote and Indigenous communities.
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