B.C. finance minister urges Ottawa to match auto-sector aid with support for forestry industry

British Columbia’s Finance Minister Brenda Bailey is urging the federal government to provide the same level of support for the province’s forestry sector as it does for Ontario’s automobile industry.

Bailey said she welcomes the overall direction of the federal budget released today, which she believes aligns with several of B.C.’s priorities. However, she emphasized that the province’s softwood lumber industry continues to face “extraordinary” duties and tariffs of more than 45 per cent, putting workers and communities under significant pressure.

Her remarks followed an emergency meeting earlier this week between Premier David Eby and federal Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who is responsible for Canada–U.S. trade. The talks focused on ongoing softwood lumber disputes and the need for coordinated federal–provincial action.

Bailey also highlighted the importance of federal backing for the proposed North Coast Transmission Line, a $6-billion infrastructure project aimed at powering LNG and mining operations in northwestern B.C. While she welcomed Ottawa’s ongoing investments in critical minerals, she said B.C. is still waiting for concrete support for the transmission project, which she described as key to the province’s clean-energy transition.