By ROB BOTTERELL
MLA, Saanich North and the Islands
“Talk and log” old growth, mill closures, drought, wildfires, lack of value-added products from second-growth forests and climate change have shaken the very foundations of the forest sector in our province.
Key NDP forestry initiatives such as the Old Growth Strategic Review have stalled. Nor is the province any closer to protecting 30 per cent of the B.C. land base by 2030, implementing the biodiversity and ecosystem health framework, local watershed governance and a paradigm shift to a sustainable industry that protects workers and communities.
Following the money tells the same story: the Ministry of Forests’ 2026 budget is $910 million, essentially unchanged from last year. No new money means no new effort to deliver on previous NDP forestry promises.
What we know is that the current system of forest and ecosystem management is incapable of delivering the transformation in the forest sector we so desperately need. Out of the 2025 Green/NDP Accord, an independent body, the Provincial Forest Advisory Council (PFAC), developed a road map to transform forestry management to a system that delivers stability to the sector that everyone can support. See the report at pfac.ca/.
The NDP government needs to draw on the $5-billion contingency in the 2026 budget to quickly make the systemic changes recommended by PFAC: the development of accurate, trusted information on forests and ecosystems, regionalized land management with First Nations as full partners, independent non-political oversight and a relentless focus on eliminating dysfunctional elements of programs like BC Timber Sales.This needs to be followed by transformative change to our stumpage and tenure systems.
While this work is underway, we need to use the tools and funding we already have to build consensus amongst all parties on ways to immediately protect the Walbran and Fairy Creek. At my suggestion, Forests Minister Ravi Parmar started this work by establishing a roundtable and holding an initial meeting which included representatives of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Nanwakolas First Nation, Tseshaht First Nation, Ditidaht First Nation, Pacheedaht First Nation, Sierra Club, Endangered Ecosytems Alliance, Ancient Forest Alliance, Organizing for Change, Truck Loggers Association, Western Forest Products, BC First Nations Forestry Council, Nuu-chah-nulth and the Green Caucus.
I have urged the minister to continue this roundtable so that dangerous militarized police enforcement of injunctions and protests are soon a thing of the past.
For my part as the Green Caucus forests critic, I will continue to press for immediate implementation of the PFAC report, as well as previous commitments, including full implementation of the Old Growth Strategic Review, 30X30, the biodiversity and ecosystem health framework, and local watershed governance.
First Nations, rural communities, forest workers, environmental groups, forest companies — all British Columbians —have an interest in the future of our forests. The answers are in front of us. The question is whether the NDP government has the courage and political will to lead this transformation.