Liberals Fail Forestry Workers Again

August 21, 2026

August 21, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ottawa, ON – Gaétan Malette, Conservative Associate Shadow Minister for Natural Resources (Mining and Forestry), released the following statement after Domtar announced the indefinite closure of its Howe Sound Pulp and Paper mill and Bayview Fibre facility in British Columbia:

“Another mill is closing, hundreds more forestry workers are losing their jobs, and Mark Carney’s Liberals are still failing to deliver the action Canada’s forestry sector needs.

“Domtar has announced the indefinite closure of its Howe Sound Pulp and Paper mill and Bayview Fibre facility on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, putting approximately 400 people out of work.

“For these workers, this means lost paycheques, financial uncertainty and fewer opportunities to find another good-paying job close to home.

“Sadly, this is not an isolated closure. Just eight months ago, Domtar permanently closed its Crofton mill, costing another 350 workers their jobs. Now another B.C. community is paying the price.

“After 11 years, Liberals still have not secured a lasting softwood lumber agreement with the United States. They have failed to resolve this dispute through three different U.S. presidents, leaving Canadian producers to face punishing duties and ongoing uncertainty.

“The consequences are clear. Forestry jobs are disappearing, mills are closing and investment is leaving Canada. The BC Council of Forest Industries reports that 15,000 forestry jobs have been lost since 2022. 

“Total Canadian lumber production has fallen by more than 30 per cent since 2015, and softwood lumber production has dropped another 10.7 per cent since Mark Carney became Prime Minister. That is the record of decline that forestry workers and communities are paying for.

“Canada should be one of the best places in the world to invest in forestry. Instead, mills are closing, production is falling and Canadian forestry jobs are disappearing.

“Conservatives will fight for a softwood lumber deal that defends Canadian workers instead of conceding leverage without getting anything in return. We will work to unleash our resource sector, strengthen our forestry industry, and restore Canada as a place where forestry workers can build a future for themselves and their families.”