Letter: Reality Check: New Brunswick’s Forest Products Industry is Vital to the Province

New Brunswick’s forest products industry employs more than 24,000 New Brunswickers (direct and indirect jobs) and encompasses more than 600 businesses, including small and medium sized and Indigenous-owned businesses. Tax revenues, employment, and spinoff businesses generated by the forest sector are the basis for rural economic sustainability for many New Brunswick communities.

Annually, the sector exports $2.8 billion in forest products, while contributing over $450 million to provincial and local taxes and royalties, important revenues that contribute to the delivery of critical services New Brunswicker’s expect. Forest products are also an essential part of our everyday lives.

The forest sector maintains healthy, growing forests that provide fibre, support conservation, and protect species, land, and waters through carefully planned management strategies and responsible operations. Healthy forests are also critical to climate change adaptation, reducing carbon emissions, and wildfire risk mitigation. Our sector actively manages healthy forests and is committed to capital investment and research and development to enhance resilience in our forests and our communities.

Like other industries and businesses in New Brunswick, the forest sector is pressured by increased costs for electricity, fuel, and taxes, market uncertainties, and workforce challenges that impact the sector’s global competitiveness. Unresolved Aboriginal title claims add further complexity and uncertainty.

Our Association and its members are committed to reconciliation. Negotiating settlements is an easy campaign promise, but we firmly believe that including the forest sector in these discussions and working alongside Indigenous communities is the path to finding solutions that benefit everyone.

The above letter to the editor was submitted for consideration on October 2nd, 2024.