Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says it is “unacceptable” that Ottawa always steps up when it comes to supporting key sectors in Ontario and Quebec, but “continues to drop the ball” when it comes to supporting B.C. forestry.

Parmar’s comments come after federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu announced Friday that Ottawa will contribute $12 million toward a $29-million package to help keep a paper mill in northern Ontario open.

Parmar said he does not want to “pit workers against workers,” adding that he is glad that Ottawa is providing the support for those workers in Ontario.

But Parmar says it is time that forestry workers in B.C. get the “same treatment” as forestry workers elsewhere, because “their paycheques matter just as much as the paycheques of those folks working in that paper mill” i

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