The Province has extended the reduced fee in place for log exports in the Mid-Coast Timber Supply Area for one more year (to January 2017) to support forestry jobs in the area.

In January 2013, the Province reduced fees on some log exports from the Mid-Coast Timber Supply Area in an effort to increase harvest levels. It is a difficult and expensive area to work in – with no local lumber mill, logs have to be sent to Vancouver to be cut or exported – and much of the wood is of low quality. Additionally, the volume of exempted timber is surplus to domestic mills.

The reduced fee on low- and mid-grade logs is a minimum of $1.00 per cubic metre. The reduced fee is being extended to allow more time to better review the impact of the fee reduction on harvesting and export activity in the area.

The reduced fee is based on recommendations from a 2012 review of B.C.'s log export policies.

Quick Facts:

• In 2014, the Province collected $34.5 million from log export fees.
• More than 90% of the timber harvested in B.C. is sold to domestic manufacturers.
• The exemption does not apply to western redcedar or cypress.

Learn More:

Our Natural Advantage: Forest Sector Strategy for British Columbia: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/forestsectorstrategy/Forest_Strategy_WEB.PDF

Provincial log export policy: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/competitive-forest-industry/log-exports

Forest Act: http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/96157_10