Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer says B.C.'s forestry industry is in crisis due to over-regulation and a "lack of respect for the people who actually work in our forests."

Speaking in the B.C. Legislature Monday, Oct. 6, Stamer put the blame for closed sawmills in McKenzie, Chetwynd and Houston on "failed government policy" that led to not enough timber being available to harvest.

"At one time forestry provided more than 100,000 full-time good-paying jobs in this province. Today that number has been cut nearly in half," the BC Conservative MLA said.

B.C.-based forestry giant Canfor announced last year it was abandoning its plans to replace its closed sawmill in Houston .

“The ability to reliably access enough economic timber to run our manufacturing facilities is critical for

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