Unionized lumber workers and their employers look on with interest as B.C. heads on a trade mission to China. A successful bid to supply softwood for 86 million apartments could mean a giant boost for the forestry business. It could also be a boon for Kelowna's Tolko sawmill.
Even without the contract, B.C.'s lumber mills were busy last year, showing strong growth.
"That translates into about 6,000 direct positions," says Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Minister Pat Bell, "that is simple the logging and milling jobs and it does not include any of the spin-off jobs associated with that," he says.
Bell leads the trade mission that wants to make sure China uses B.C. softwood for the five-year housing project. It would mean mills across the Interior would literally be buzzing. Bell and his team will show off B.C. lumber near Shanghai this weekend.
The trade junket comes as workers in the Southern Interior could move to strike if their employers don't get back to contract talks. They've been without a deal for over a year. A walkout could affect 200 employees at Kelowna's Tolko sawmill.
Union officials say they want a better deal because lumber markets are recovering. Bell says the B.C. government wants to see quick end to the labour strife.
"I would be willing to meet with all proponents involved to try to use the province of British Columbia as an organization that could support reaching an agreement," Bell says.
He adds the province hasn't been asked to get involved but the offer still stands. Workers at Kelowna's Tolko sawmill get closer to a walkout on Friday as they join the Southern Interior's unionised forestry employees to vote on a strike mandate.
Bell says booming demand from China and Japan mean there needs to be an agreement sooner than later.
