- The federal government is extending a $100-million loan to help a forest products company in Western Canada cope with tariffs and trade uncertainty.
- The funds are being offered to Millar Western Forest Products, which operates three pulp mills across Alberta and British Columbia, to help with near-term needs like rebuilding its log inventory.
- Millar Western employs some 420 workers and supports hundreds more through maintenance and consulting work.
- Ottawa says the loan will help the company protect those jobs and adapt to changing market conditions.
- British Columbia Premier David Eby says he helped a cabinet minister write her statement denouncing plans for the expansion of a liquefied natural gas plant neighbouring her riding, despite his government advocating for the project.
- Minister of emergency management and climate readiness Kelly Greene expressed her disappointment in the decision by FortisBC to move forward with the next phase of the Tilbury LNG project, citing safety concerns.
- The province issued an order-in-council that exempts the Phase 1B Tilbury expansion from needing to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity under the Utilities Commission Act.
- Skipping the certificate step will save time and allow the expansion to proceed, creating 1,100 jobs during construction and generating $260 million in tax revenues.
- David Eby stated that his government has a "big tent" approach, allowing Kelly Greene to publicly criticize the LNG expansion plan.
Ottawa's $100 million loan to Millar Western Forest Products aims to alleviate the financial strain caused by tariffs and trade uncertainties affecting its operations in Alberta and British Columbia. The funds will assist in rebuilding log inventories and maintaining approximately 420 jobs within the company.23
Finance Canada emphasized that the loan is crucial for the company to adapt to changing market conditions and protect jobs. Millar Western, primarily an exporter, also supports hundreds of additional jobs through maintenance and consulting work.
In a separate political development, British Columbia Premier David Eby defended a cabinet minister's public dissent regarding the expansion of the Tilbury liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. Minister Kelly Greene expressed her disappointment over FortisBC's decision to advance the project, citing safety concerns for her community.569
Eby stated, “This is an issue that has been important to Kelly Greene as an MLA for her community for a long time. We worked together on her statement, so she was able to continue the advocating, and I supported her ability to do that.” The provincial government has issued an order-in-council to expedite the expansion, which is projected to create 1,100 jobs during construction and generate $260 million in tax revenues.78
“The loan aims to protect approximately 420 jobs at Millar Western, which operates three pulp mills in Alberta and British Columbia. Meanwhile, Premier David Eby supports Minister Kelly Greene's public criticism of the Tilbury LNG expansion, emphasizing a collaborative approach within his government.”
