BC Injects $6.2M To Grow Global Wood Markets
Prince George, BC – While the morning session pondered the challenges posed by a dwindling wood fibre supply, the Council of Forest Industries (COFI) convention also provided the backdrop for Forests Minister, Steve Thomson’s, annual funding announcement to support expanding global markets for BC wood products.
This year, Thomson said $6.2-million dollars in funding is being made available to nine industry trade associations that deliver market development programs on behalf of government and industry. That’s comparable to last year’s allotment of $6.1-million. The programs are delivered on a cost-shared basis, with additional money from industry and the federal government.
“With this funding, the Council of Forest Industries will continue to promote BC’s world-leading forest products to growing economies in Asia, including China and South Korea,” said COFI President, James Gorman. “Our members are already leaders within the global forest products industry, helping to drive the economy of BC and the communities in which they operate.”
Forestry Innovation Investment, the province’s market development agency administers the funding. Based on a competitive Call for Proposals, the lion’s share of this year’s funding – $3.3-million dollars – will be going to the Canada Wood Group to expand the use of BC wood products in the construction and re-manufacturing sectors in China by providing training and quality support. It will also be used to expand the BC forest sector’s representation in China, Japan, Korea, and India.
The BC Wood Specialties Group has received $629-thousand dollars in funding to pursue niche opportunities for value-added products in Canada and the United states and to develop opportunities and increase sales in Asia, Mexico, and Eastern Europe.
Comments
Not bad. Pay 6 million to cover the basi trail.. And inject 6.2 million for everyone living off the lumber industry.. How generous of them.
Yup, corporate welfare bums. Now we wait for the right-wings nut to speak out in favour of these hand-outs and explain how we don’t understand if we don’t support this.
OOps, forgot to add how we’ll also be called “dippers” and “whiners” because we just don’t get it.
So, let me get this straight…..MY Government is using MY tax dollars to provide funding to support expanding global markets for BC wood products?
….They are using MY tax dollars to promote BC’s world-leading forest products to growing economies in Asia, including China and South Korea?
….They are using MY tax dollars to expand the use of BC wood products in the construction and re-manufacturing sectors in China by providing training and quality support and to expand the BC forest sector’s representation in China, Japan, Korea, and India?
….They are using MY tax dollars to pursue niche opportunities for value-added products in Canada and the United states and to develop opportunities and increase sales in Asia, Mexico, and Eastern Europe?
They are using MY tax dollars to help create jobs in BC, jobs in the Forestry Sector, jobs that will likely be filled by unionized forestry workers!
They are using MY tax dollars?? How dare they!!
Remember not so long ago, our BC Film industry and it’s Unions were screaming, crying, begging and demanding Government funding to assist, support, expand and prop up our film industry.
You guys were pretty quiet about that, weren’t you!
As long as dollars are being used to support Union jobs, then everything is just fine, right??
Union jobs only! To heck with everyone else, right??
Hart Guy, why do you always say “MY tax dollars”, as though you are the only one contributing? It just seems odd given that there are over 4.5 million people in BC, LOL ;)
Hart guy..the film industry, Hollywood north.. The government offered film companies huge incentives to film up here in bc and where bragging about all the job creations they did and then boom the cut all the funding and basically shut down the industry.. Of course people where complaining.
Btw it wasn’t just the union complaining, it was also all the other businesses it impacted, like hotels, food industry, transportation etc..mostly non Union.. Oops ;)
NMG, I was using MY tax dollars, speaking on behalf of all of us taxpayers! I’ll try to remember to use OUR tax dollars in the future! Happy now? ;-)
P Val, my understanding of the film industry situation is that the industry was losing work as a result of our high Canadian dollar! Of all of the people and organizations complaining, it seemed to me that the film industry unions by and large and as per usual had the biggest mouths!
That’s my opinion! I’m sure that you will correct, if I am wrong!
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