BC Council of Forest Industries

COFI is the voice of the BC forest sector, an industry that is a cornerstone of the economy, supporting good jobs and a better quality of life in BC.

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

BC’s forest sector is at a crossroads — facing serious challenges, yet offering real solutions to some of our province’s most urgent needs: housing, wildfire mitigation, reconciliation, and building a stronger provincial economy.

At a time of unprecedented change, partnership and collaboration have never been more important.

Under the theme “Forestry is a Solution,” the 2026 COFI Convention will bring together leaders from industry, government, First Nations, and communities across the forest value chain. Together, we’ll explore how forestry can rise to meet this moment — helping build a more resilient future for British Columbia.

Join us April 8–10, 2026, at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver.

Register now or learn more about partnership opportunities here:
https://t.co/piRellrDhB

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

COFI is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2026 Forestry Scholarships, recognizing students pursuing careers across BC’s forest sector.

“BC’s forest sector is built on the skill, ingenuity and dedication of its people,” said Kim Haakstad. “These students are bringing fresh ideas, perspectives and talent to forestry at an important time for our industry. We’re proud to support the next generation as they build careers that will help shape the future of forestry in BC.”

Career opportunities span the full forestry value chain, including forest management, manufacturing, engineering, technology and skilled trades.

See the list of 2026 scholarship winners in the the full announcement here:

https://t.co/dg6PFx6JjG

#NationalForestWeek #BCForestry #Scholarship

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

Happy #NationalForestWeek! 🌲

Forests are part of Canada’s identity — supporting families, strengthening our economy and creating opportunities from coast to coast.

Here in BC, people have built careers, communities, and livelihoods around our forests for generations, caring for them, managing them and turning wood into essential products used every day.

This week, we celebrate the people, knowledge and innovation behind one of Canada’s most important renewable resources.

#BCForestry #ForestryIsASolution

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

WTF! Where’s the Fibre? 🌲

BC has the trees and expertise. Forestry businesses need faster permits, lower costs and greater certainty to invest.

Great conversations at the ILMA Convention in Osoyoos this week on wood supply, competitiveness and the future of BC forestry.

#BCForestry #ForestryisaSolution #bcpoli

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

Forestry matters to communities across BC, and local government leaders are essential partners in strengthening the sector.

COFI had a big presence at #UBCM2026, connecting with mayors, councillors and delegates throughout the week. From the Forestry panel at the Resource Works Get it Done BC event and remarks at the Tuesday Luncheon, to conversations at our trade show booth and a packed COFI reception, forestry was front and centre.

A strong forest sector supports jobs, local businesses and services in communities across the province — and can help BC build more homes, reduce wildfire risk and strengthen local economies.

Thank you to everyone who connected with us this week to discuss the challenges facing forestry and the actions we can take together to improve competitiveness and strengthen the sector.

Resilient forests. Resilient communities. Stronger together.

#BCForestry #BCPoli #UBCM2026

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

“Forestry is BC’s most important industry.” — Minister Adrian Dix, speaking at today’s Resource Works #GetItDoneBC event.

We couldn’t agree more.

Kim Haakstad @COFI_INFO joined the conversation with Peter Lister @truckloggerBC, and Cam McAlpine about what it will take to strengthen BC’s forest sector and get more wood moving.

The impact of the forest sector reaches across BC. It supports workers, suppliers and communities. It produces building materials for homes, essential products we rely on every day, and opportunities for renewable energy through biomass. Forest Service Roads also provide access for tourism, recreation and mineral exploration.

BC has the expertise, skilled workforce and infrastructure. Let’s get the wood moving and put those advantages to work.

The opportunity is here. The need for action is urgent. Let’s Get It Done for BC forestry.

#BCForestry #BCPoli #ForestryIsASolution #GetItDoneBC #UBCM2026 @adriandix

[Resource Works @Resource_Works]

"I've been in the forest sector for around 35 years and I've never seen it this bad. Actually, it's worse now." — Peter Lister, CEO, @truckloggerBC, on the state of the sector a year after he said the same thing from this stage
Forestry is a Solution: B.C.'s Homegrown Advantage at #GetItDoneBC, with @Kimmy_Haak of @COFI_INFO and moderated by @cmcalpine.

[Resource Works @Resource_Works]

Rural jobs. Homes. Lower wildfire risk. Reconciliation. Forestry delivers all of it—only while the sector can compete.

Forestry Is A Solution: B.C.'s Homegrown Advantage with @Kimmy_Haak of @COFI_INFO and Peter Lister of the @truckloggerBC on what B.C. can get done now. Moderated by @pendulumgroupca's @cmcalpine.
#GetItDoneBC

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

See joint letter to Premier Eby from BC’s Forest Sector Organizations here:
https://t.co/ImeT502xH7

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

BC’s forest sector is speaking with one voice.

15 forestry organizations representing workers, manufacturers, contractors, communities and businesses are calling on the Province to act now:

• Create a Forestry Crisis Action Group to drive urgent, accountable action.
• Get affordable wood moving to support workers, mills and communities.
• Stop adding costs and barriers that weaken BC’s competitiveness.

We cannot control the trade war, but we can control whether British Columbia makes it easier or harder to keep people working.

#BCForestry #BCPoli #CDNpoli

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

B.C.’s forest sector is at a breaking point. Immediate action is required.

Organizations representing workers, manufacturers, contractors, communities and businesses across B.C.’s highly integrated forest sector have come together to call on Premier David Eby and the Provincial government to urgently establish a Forestry Crisis Action Group.

Led by the Premier’s Office, the group would bring together senior government decision-makers and forest sector representatives with a clear mandate: get wood moving, reduce costs, remove regulatory barriers, protect operating businesses, and retain—not retrain—B.C.’s skilled forestry workforce.

We stand ready to work with the Premier and Cabinet to stabilize the sector, protect jobs and restore B.C.’s global competitiveness.

Read the joint letter below:
https://t.co/GBJAUVJDBb

#bcpoli #bcforestry #cdnpoli

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

BC’s forest sector is facing extraordinary pressure from trade tensions and challenging global markets to rising costs and shrinking access to economically viable wood here at home.

Kim Haakstad sits down with @christyclarkbc to discuss what these pressures mean for forestry, the workers and communities that depend on it, and what BC can do to strengthen the sector and improve competitiveness.

While we can’t control every global pressure, we can strengthen the conditions for forestry here at home by getting more wood moving, reducing costs and regulatory barriers, and improving competitiveness.

Watch the full conversation below:
https://t.co/WgMMFN1Gu5

#bcpoli #cdnpoli #bcforestry

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

Kim Haakstad, President & CEO of COFI, says the breakdown in Canada–U.S. trade talks will create real challenges for BC’s forest sector, but Ottawa had to walk away if negotiators couldn't secure a deal that worked for Canadians broadly.

With punishing U.S. tariffs hitting BC forest products, the need for urgent action here at home is even greater.

Get more wood moving. Reduce costs. Remove regulatory barriers.

These are the things we can control, and the steps we need to take to keep people working, mills operating and BC producers competitive.

🔗 Read the full story: https://t.co/AWwl54gN6H

#BCForestry #Forestry #Trade #BCpoli #CDNpoli

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

BC’s forest sector is among the industries hardest hit by the latest U.S. tariffs, adding even more pressure on workers, businesses and communities across the province. The situation has never been more serious.

This is the moment for BC to rally behind forestry.

We need urgent, coordinated action that uses every available tool to get wood moving, reduce costs, remove red tape, keep mills operating and people working.

We have the wood. We have the skilled workforce. We have global customers.

Now is the time to act.

🔗 Read the CBC story: https://t.co/E3n4231I1n

#BCForestry #Forestry #BritishColumbia #cdnpoli #bcpoli

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

Kim Haakstad, on behalf of COFI and BCLTC issued the following statement on the Canada-U.S. trade talks:

“COFI and BCLTC welcome the decision to pause the implementation of Section 338 tariffs while talks continue between Canada and the United States.

While we await further details, the pause is an encouraging sign that discussions are progressing and that there is an opportunity to address the significant trade issues between our two countries.

Although the pause is a positive step, the implications for Canada’s forest sector are not yet clear. Key issues, including the Section 232 tariff on lumber and the softwood lumber dispute, remain central to these discussions. We will review the details of any agreement and its implications for the full range of Canadian forest products."

Read the full statement below:
https://t.co/FtY1DuTJSK

#bcpoli #cndpoli

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

"People need jobs, governments need revenue, and we need policy that is consistent."

City of Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog highlights the importance of reducing regulatory burden to help BC's forestry sector deliver the wood products people need all over the world.

#ForestryisaSolution #BCpoli #COFI2026

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

Forestry careers take many forms. 🛠️🌲

Meet Morgan Wood, a COFI Forestry Scholarship recipient who used the scholarship to continue her Welding program in Prince George and move closer to completing her Red Seal.

"With the support of the COFI Scholarship I was able to continue on with the next levels of the Welding program leaving me debt free. Without the funding it is hard for people to complete the trades they are working on. This scholarship really helped me achieve my goal."

Today, Morgan is working at Langfab building a skilled trades career connected to BC's forest sector.

From welders and millwrights to foresters, accountants, and engineers, B.C.'s forest sector runs on a wide range of skills and career paths.

#BCForestry #COFIScholarships

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

“If you had an opportunity to build a forestry industry, you would take it. You would move heaven and earth to get there.”

A powerful point on Hotel Pacifico from Geoff Meggs, former Chief of Staff to John Horgan.

BC already has that industry—supporting tens of thousands of jobs, generating significant government revenues, and anchoring communities across the province.

The opportunity is here. We need to improve the conditions for forestry to invest, compete and grow at home.

🎧 Hear the full conversation with COFI President & CEO Kim Haakstad on @HotelPacificoBC, with @airquotesmedia.

#BCForestry #Forestry #bcpoli #forestryisasolution @BCMikeMcD @geoffmeggs

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

Watch the full interview on Hotel Pacifico:
https://t.co/Pk8jgsLwZR

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

"We all use one forest product everyday..." 🧻 🌲

From homes and furniture to cabinets, toilet paper and more, forest products are essential to our daily lives.

We have the trees. We have the expertise. We have demand.

Now we need to get wood flowing and connect BC products with global markets.

#HotelPacifico #Forestry #bcpoli #ForestryIsASolution @airquotesmedia @BCMikeMcD @geoffmeggs @Kimmy_Haak

[BC Council of Forest Industries @COFI_INFO]

Wildfires are affecting communities across BC - and how we manage our forests matters more than ever.

@sjmuir at @Resource_Works makes the case for active forest management to reduce wildfire risk, restore forest health, and support safer, more resilient communities.

Worth a read 👇
https://t.co/itLt1XsWuG

#BCForestry #Wildfire #ForestManagement #ForestHealth #ForestryisaSolution #bcpoli