STANDING WITH GRAND FORKS: THE IMPACT OF THE INTERFOR MILL CLOSURE

This week’s announcement that Interfor will be closing its Grand Forks mill indefinitely is heartbreaking news for our community. My thoughts are with the families, workers, and small business owners who are now facing deep uncertainty about their future.

The Grand Forks mill has been more than a place of employment — it has been part of the community’s identity. Generations have worked there, raised their families here, and supported local businesses that depend on the forestry sector. The loss of this operation will be felt by everyone — from the employees in the bush and on the floor to the grocery store owners, contractors, and service providers who make up the backbone of this community.

While the government’s response has been to announce an “economic transition team,” I cannot help but ask why we are responding after the loss rather than fighting to prevent it. The challenges facing our forestry sector are not new. Mills across BC have been sounding the alarm for years about policy uncertainty, fibre supply issues, and international pressures. Yet instead of addressing these challenges head-on, the provincial government has continued to react rather than lead.

The 10% tariff announced this week may have been the final blow, but the mill was already in curtailment. The reality is that forestry towns across BC are struggling, and rural economies are paying the price. The closure in Grand Forks follows the shutdown of the Vaagen Fibre Canada mill in Midway in 2021 — and now, only one large-scale mill remains in our region, in Princeton, which recently changed ownership.

I will continue to fight for Grand Forks and for all rural communities like it. We need a government that values forestry as a cornerstone of our economy and understands the vital role these jobs play in sustaining our towns. Transition programs are not a solution — jobs are.

The people of Grand Forks are resilient. This community has been through floods, fires, and economic hardship before, and every time, it has come together and rebuilt. I will do everything I can to ensure that your voices are heard in Victoria and that rural BC is no longer left behind.

If you are directly impacted by this closure and need support navigating available programs, please reach out to my office. We are here to help connect you with resources and to listen to your concerns.

Grand Forks deserves better — and I will keep fighting for you.