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COFI joins Coalition for a Better Future, members endorse coalition’s vision

The BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) is pleased to announce that it has joined the Coalition for a Better Future, with all its 20 member companies endorsing the coalition’s vision – a membership that supports close to 100,000 jobs and contributes nearly $13 billion in GDP annually in B.C.

The announcement was made as delegates gather at the 2022 COFI Convention where former Bank of Canada senior deputy governor and founding member of the coalition’s advisory council, Carolyn Wilkins, is slated to give a keynote address today. This will be the coalition’s first public appearance in B.C.

“We are thrilled to be joining the Coalition for a Better Future and collaborating on driving a winning economic plan for Canada that delivers for people and the planet” said Susan Yurkovich, president and CEO of COFI. “The coalition’s vision reflects the important work provincial and federal governments, Indigenous Nations, businesses, labour and not-for-profit organizations are already undertaking to grow our economy sustainably and make life better for British Columbians. There’s much more to do to ensure a strong, sustainable and competitive economy and forestry can play an outsized role. We’re here to help.”

The Coalition for a Better Future is a cross-Canada, cross-partisan and cross-industry initiative aimed at driving collaboration to develop a bold new economic and social vision for the country that delivers economic growth and a high quality of life for people. Co-chaired by former Liberal Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan and former Conservative Deputy Leader Lisa Raitt, the coalition is calling for a ‘winning’ economic strategy for the country. The group has created a scorecard of 21 internationally-recognized metrics that will track Canada’s overall progress across three central goals: winning globally, living better and growing sustainably. The coalition’s membership includes over 130 members spanning a wide range of industries, community and civic associations, academia and more.

“We’re proud of the work we do each day and want to keep supporting good jobs, help advance reconciliation and deliver low-carbon products to customers around the world seeking materials that are a better choice for the planet” said Don Kayne, president and CEO of Canfor and chair of COFI’s board of directors. “The best way to achieve all those things is through partnership, and Canfor and the rest of the COFI membership endorses the coalition’s vision to unleash the power of collaboration to accomplish more together.”

“We’re thrilled to be bringing our message to B.C. and that western partners like COFI are working to support our vision for an inclusive, sustainable and competitive Canada,” said Carolyn Wilkins. “Global geopolitical uncertainty, the ongoing pandemic and the generational threat of climate change are complex issues that require all-hands on deck. It’s our hope that other B.C.-based organizations will join us as we continue to build momentum to realize a brighter future for people and communities across the country.”

COFI members who have endorsed the coalition’s vision, include:

• A&A Trading Ltd.
• Brink Forest Products Ltd.
• Canfor Corporation
• Carrier Lumber Ltd.
• Conifex Timber Inc.
• Domtar Corporation
• Dunkley Lumber Ltd.
• Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd.
• Hampton
• Interfor Corporation
• Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd.
• Mosaic Forest Management
• Mercer International Inc.
• Paper Excellence Group
• Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd.
• Teal Jones Group
• West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
• Western Canadian Timber Products Ltd.
• Western Forest Products Inc.
• Weyerhaeuser