By Rob Douglas, Mayor of North Cowichan, BC
This week I met with Adrian Soldera, who was recently elected First Vice-President of the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC), to discuss the challenges facing forestry workers in our community and how we can continue working together to support them.
Our discussion focused on the need for continued advocacy for provincial policy changes to strengthen B.C.’s forest sector, while ensuring local workers affected by the Crofton pulp mill closure and the ongoing curtailment of the Chemainus sawmill have access to the training and supports they need to transition into new opportunities – whether in forestry, manufacturing, or other industries.
Founded in 1963, the PPWC represents thousands of workers across British Columbia. While it has a long history of representing workers in the pulp and paper industry, it has also expanded its membership in recent years to include workers in the education, hospitality, and health care sectors.
The Province recently introduced a new Forestry Training Fund as part of the more than $70 million Canada–B.C. Workforce Tariff Response announced this spring. The program will provide employers with training and wage subsidies to support the hiring of impacted forestry workers.
North Cowichan and the PPWC are hopeful that local workers affected by the Crofton mill closures and ongoing curtailment of the Chemainus sawmill will benefit from this program, and we expect to have more information to share in the coming weeks.
