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(Vancouver, B.C.) – Susan Yurkovich, President of the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) issued the following statement today on the swearing in of Premier John Horgan and his new Cabinet:

“The BC Council of Forest Industries congratulates Premier John Horgan as the 36th Premier of British Columbia and his new Cabinet sworn in today.  We also welcome Doug Donaldson as the new Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development and look forward to working with him on the softwood lumber trade issue, as well as championing the B.C. forest sector both here and abroad.

The forest sector is the primary employer in many communities throughout the province with 140 communities and one in 16 jobs in B.C. dependent on the industry. Forestry contributes $12 billion to the provincial GDP every year and about $2.5 billion in revenues to all three levels of government, about $1.4 billion of which goes to the province.

As an industry, we are facing challenges that require provincial leadership to ensure that the B.C. forest sector remains competitive and that we can continue to access markets in the U.S. and around the globe. We look forward to working with Premier John Horgan, Minister Donaldson, cabinet and members of the Legislature who represent forest sector workers and communities that depend on the industry.”

About the BC Council of Forest Industries
The BC Council of Forest Industries is the voice of the B.C. interior forest industry. COFI members produce lumber, pulp and paper, panels and engineered wood products at more than 60 facilities across the interior. All share a commitment to a future based on employee safety, sustainable forestry and manufacturing practices, and innovative product development.

Media contact:

Mina Laudan
Laudan@cofi.org
778.990.0701