SASKATOON — The NDP’s forestry critic is calling for the province to make major investments in reforestation after a year of wildfires and tariffs on lumber exports.
Jordan McPhail, NDP MLA for Cumberland, said in a statement Wednesday that it was “long past time for the provincial government to get to work on reforestation to ensure this important industry has a future in our province.”
In a news release, the NDP pointed to the forest industry in the north taking a hit of $500 million after more than 2.9 million hectares burned during this year’s wildfires. They also highlighted Donald Trump’s new 10 per cent tariff on softwood lumber, which can run as high as 45 per cent when combined with other tariffs.
The NDP noted forestry supports nearly 8,000 jobs and that employment in the Prince Albert economic region decreased by 1,300 jobs.
“All levels of government have a role to play when it comes to protecting these good, mortgage-paying jobs,” said McPhail in a statement. “All levels of government should be at the table with leaders in this industry to ensure this vital sector is not left behind. Forestry is too important to Prince Albert and our northern communities not to act swiftly.”
In a statement, the province said they have "committed to doubling the growth of our forestry sector and will continue to support industry as we work towards achieving that goal."
The province also said the U.S. duties and tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber exports "are unfair and unjustified, and we continue to work with the federal government to ensure that federal support measures effectively address the concerns raised by Saskatchewan’s softwood lumber producers."
The province further noted that the forestry industry is required, through provincial regulation and policy, to "reforest all provincial forest lands they harvest, to help ensure the long-term sustainability and health of the forest."
"Nearly all areas burned by wildfires regenerate naturally as part of the cycle of disturbance and renewal that shapes the boreal forest. There is usually no need to plant them. There are some rare exceptions to this, including areas recently harvested that have not yet been planted, or areas that have burned twice over a short period of time. These areas may get renewed in the future through artificial regeneration (planting or seeding), following appropriate assessments of renewal status, size of the area and access considerations."
The government statement also criticized the NDP, saying the party "made no mention of the forestry sector in their 2024 election platform and are once again looking to score cheap political points with no new ideas, and no plan."
