B.C. invests 11 million on value-added lumber manufacturing amid U.S. uncertainty

The British Columbia government is investing up to $11 million to enhance the mass-timber manufacturing sector, creating over 100 jobs across the province. Jobs and Economic Development Minister Diana Gibson stated that this funding is essential for supporting “homegrown B. C. companies” in the forestry industry. Among the funded projects, Spearhead Timberworks will receive up to $7.

5 million for a new facility, while Westlam Industries will get $1. 5 million to build a new plant. These investments come from the provincial Manufacturing Jobs Fund, which nearly a quarter of B. C. wood-product makers have applied to.

The funding not only aims to boost local production but also to help these companies compete internationally. The investment arrives amid growing uncertainty in B. C. ’s lumber industry due to potential U. S.

tariffs on Canadian lumber. Gibson reiterated the government’s commitment to working with the industry to foster a more resilient economy. The initiatives reflect a strategic response to both local job creation and the challenges posed by international trade policies.