July 7, 2026
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Northern Development is announcing the first funding program available under its newest partner program, The Canada-B.C. Workforce Tariff Response Forestry Grant: Forestry Training Fund. The $6.9 million funding program is built to support workforce needs across the entire province by enabling the recruitment, training and retention of individuals with demonstrated labour market attachment, including those impacted by recent macro-economic transition.
This will include:
- Rapid re-skilling for workers to pivot to in-demand occupations
- Employer-driven training that prevents layoffs and supports workforce retention. Enabling employers to retain or redeploy workers to pursue opportunities and remain competitive
- Targeted support for forestry contractors and small operators to diversify into larger scale and local infrastructure projects aligned with emerging opportunities
A maximum of $1 million is available to each employer applicant, providing up to 85 per cent of eligible staff’s combined wage and training costs over the training horizon up to a maximum of $50,000 per employee. This means that 20 employees per organization may receive training through a variety of mechanisms, including employer-delivered training, rapid retraining and short-term certifications.
The program is available to those operating in the forestry sector within Indigenous organizations and First Nations, corporations of any size (public or privately owned and incorporated) and not for profit organizations whose sole purpose is to create jobs and economic benefit in their industry (i.e. community forests). Those operating in other natural resource sectors that are hiring and training displaced forestry workers may also be eligible.
With the online application portal opening on July 14, interested applicants are encouraged to review the scope and requirements of the available funding. Staff at Northern Development are available now to work with interested applicants to address questions prior to submission of a project proposal. The application guide and form are available at northerndevelopment.bc.ca/forestry-training-fund/
About the Canada-B.C. Workforce Tariff Response – Forestry Grant: The Forestry Grant is a $20.8 million investment by the Government of Canada and the Province of BC to support forestry workers, employers and communities throughout all of B.C. It is a portion of the Government of BC’s and Canada’s Workforce Tariff Response Initiative, which includes $70.4 million over three years in federal funding. The Forestry Training Fund is the first phase of funding available through the Canada-B.C. Workforce Tariff Response – Forestry Grant.
Quotes:
Ben Campbell, CEO, Northern Development Initiative Trust –
“Forestry has long been a backbone industry for communities across B.C., and behind every shift in the economy are real people feeling the impact. We’re proud to be supporting the federal and provincial governments to help deliver a program that supports workers adapting to change, assists employers in retaining skilled staff and ensures communities are supported through periods of uncertainty.”
Sheila Malcolmson, B.C.’s Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction –
“Forestry workers, families and communities in British Columbia are facing real uncertainty because of global tariffs and they deserve support they can count on. We’re funding the Northern Development Initiative Trust to help people build skills and move into new opportunities quickly. Thank you to our federal partners for working with us to support people and strengthen British Columbian communities.”
Ravi Parmar, B.C.’s Minister of Forests –
“This new fund will help us train, recruit, and retain forest workers into the future, as we build a working forest in BC. This is how we create resilience in forestry, by supporting the loggers and contractors who are in the bush, moving fibre to mills and creating healthier forests.”
Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario –
“Amid significant economic change, forestry workers and communities are adapting and ready to lead. Through our partnership with British Columbia, we are supporting workers to develop in-demand skills, access new opportunities and build resilience for the future. This will strengthen local economies and support a Canada-strong workforce that reflects the needs of our country.”
