Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach and 20 other northern B.C. municipal leaders want federal help with the forestry downturn affecting their communities.
They’ve sent a letter to Ottawa urging the federal government to come to the table with support for communities and employees bearing the brunt of mill curtailments and closures.
The mayors say a declining timber supply resulting from forest fires and the mountain pine beetle epidemic have driven up log costs. That, combined with volatile lumber markets and punishing U.S. softwood duties, has caused a “perfect storm”.
They want to see quick action from Ottawa through the the Softwood Lumber Action Plan or other federal programs.
Terrace mayor Carol Leclerc, Williams Lake mayor Walt Cobb, and Dawson Creek mayor Dale Bumstead have also added their names to the letter.
