FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2026
VANCOUVER, BC — Following yesterday’s announcement of the closure at Howe Sound and last month’s closure of the Northwood pulp mill in Prince George, the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) is issuing an urgent call to action. The loss of these industrial anchors represents a blow to hundreds of skilled workers, their families, and the regional economies that rely on British Columbia’s forestry sector.
“The devastation caused by the loss of both facilities cannot be overstated,” said Chuck LeBlanc, National President of the PPWC. “Members of our own Local 8 and UNIFOR Local 1119 are highly skilled, dedicated workers who have given decades of their lives to building this industry. To see these operations shuttered leaves families and entire communities in a dreadful situation.”
The union’s leadership warns that without immediate, direct intervention from both federal and provincial governments, the wave of industrial shutdowns will permanently erode BC’s working-class communities and decimate one of the province’s foundational industries. The PPWC is calling on the federal government to take swift steps to protect displaced workers from severe financial hardship as they face uncertain futures.
“Affected workers need supports right away,” says LeBlanc. “We are calling on the federal government in Ottawa to immediately extend Employment Insurance (EI) provisions past October 2026. Short-term relief is simply not enough when hundreds of workers are suddenly thrown into a structural employment crisis.”
In addition to extending baseline income relief, the PPWC emphasizes that Ottawa must expand access to targeted retraining and skills-development initiatives.
“Workers don’t want hand-outs. They want a future,” added Adrian Soldera, First Vice President of the PPWC. “Extending EI past October buys essential time, but the federal government must also commit funds to expand training programs tailored specifically for forestry workers transitioning into new technical roles. Furthermore, we need our provincial government to step up right now and reinstate the bridging to retirement program. Senior workers who have dedicated 30 or 40 years to these mills deserve a dignified path to retirement.”
While federal social safety nets are vital for immediate relief, the PPWC stresses that the provincial government must address the root systemic causes driving BC’s mills out of business. The union points directly to unsustainable operating costs, restrictive regulations, and an outdated tenure system as primary drivers of recent closures.
“It is time for the provincial government to make the necessary structural changes to protect forestry jobs in BC,” stated LeBlanc. “We need immediate revisions to the Forest Practices Code and an overhaul of our current system of tenure and red tape. Bureaucratic delays and sky-high input costs are driving employers out of the province. If Victoria does not take concrete steps to drive down operational costs for remaining employers, more mills will fall into shut-down status.”
The PPWC emphasizes that provincial leaders must act decisively to offset compounding operational costs so that remaining facilities can withstand intense global competition and fluctuating market conditions.
“Our remaining mills and companies need to brace for difficult economic realities, and they cannot do it alone,” stated Soldera. “The province must look at tangible ways to offset costs for remaining employers. That means stabilizing fiber supply, reducing timber pricing bottlenecks, banning raw log exports, and providing energy and regulatory relief.”
The PPWC firmly rejects any political proposals to stall for time through lengthy consultation processes, market studies, or expert panels.
“Our communities and our members need drastic action now, not another survey or commission to study what’s happening,” said LeBlanc. “We already know what is happening: mills are closing, families are suffering, and forestry towns are being emptied. We do not need another report sitting on a shelf in Victoria. We need policy changes implemented today.”
“Solidarity means standing together when times are tough, but it also means demanding accountability from our elected leaders,” concluded Soldera. “The PPWC will continue to fight on the shop floor, in public, and at government tables to defend the livelihoods of every forestry community. We demand that the federal and provincial governments act immediately to protect our workers, safeguard forestry, and restore stability to the industry.”
About the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC)
The Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) is a democratic, member-driven union representing working people across forestry, pulp and paper, healthcare, education, and various industrial sectors throughout western Canada. Founded on principles of shop-floor democracy, environmental stewardship, and worker solidarity, the PPWC advocates for safe working conditions, fair wages, and social justice.
Media Contact:
Chuck LeBlanc
President, Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC)
Phone: (604) 731-1909
national@ppwc.ca
ppwc.ca
