Support for Vancouver Island forestry workers

AI summary

The petitioners (members of the Public and Private Workers of Canada and USW Chemainus sawmill workers) state that hundreds of forestry workers on Vancouver Island have been laid off since March 2025 and that a 20‑week EI extension announced in June 2025 has not been applied equally and is set to expire in April 2026. They say a $50 million Worker Support Fund announced in August 2025 has not yet been released in British Columbia and ask the Government of Canada to immediately approve British Columbia’s Labour Market Development Agreement so the funds can be released; they also request adding retirement‑bridge and relocation funding to the fund and extending the extra 20 weeks of EI for forestry workers until April 2027 with equal application. The petition does not include a government response.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Government of Canada Hundreds of forestry workers on Vancouver Island have been laid off either temporarily or permanently since March 2025; In June 2025, Prime Minister Carney announced an extra 20 weeks of EI coverage for forestry workers, which have not been applied equally; This extension is set to expire in April 2026, leaving those workers laid off after the expiration date unfairly disadvantaged by separate EI rules; and In August 2025, the Minister of Families and Jobs announced a $50 million Worker Support Fund to assist with upskilling, reskilling and income supports for forestry workers, but this funding has still not been released in British Columbia. We, the undersigned, Members of the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) and USW Chemainus Sawmill workers, call upon the Government of Canada to immediately approve British Columbia’s Labour Market Development Agreement so that the Worker Support Fund monies can be released to workers in need. 1. Consider adding retirement bridge funding to the Worker Support Fund as it may be more realistic than retraining for many workers over the age of 55 years old; 2. Consider adding relocation funding to the Worker Support Fund to allow workers to move should they need to leave the region due to limited job absorption; and 3. Extend the extra 20 weeks of EI (Employment Insurance) coverage for forestry workers for an additional fiscal year, until April 2027, and ensure these benefits are being applied equally to all forestry workers who have been laid off. immediately approve British Columbia’s Labour Market Development Agreement so that the Worker Support Fund monies can be released to workers in need. 1. Consider adding retirement bridge funding to the Worker Support Fund as it may be more realistic than retraining for many workers over the age of 55 years old; 2. Consider adding relocation funding to the Worker Support Fund to allow workers to move should they need to leave the region due to limited job absorption; and 3. Extend the extra 20 weeks of EI (Employment Insurance) coverage for forestry workers for an additional fiscal year, until April 2027, and ensure these benefits are being applied equally to all forestry workers who have been laid off.

Government response

No government response is available yet.