Nanaimo Board Reverses Stance on Raw Log Export Ban
The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) recently pulled back a proposed motion that would have seen it call for a ban on raw log exports from British Columbia. The decision came after forestry companies and industry groups warned that such a ban could harm local manufacturers and put jobs at risk.
The motion was originally intended to be presented at the upcoming Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) meeting as a formal call for provincial and federal action on raw log export policy. However, RDN directors decided this week not to move forward with it after hearing from industry stakeholders.
Industry Voices Concern Over Economic Impact
WOOD manufacturing companies — including Harmac Timber, Coastland Wood Industries and members of the Coastal Forest Policy Coalition — urged the board to reconsider, arguing that outright banning the export of unprocessed logs could undercut their operations and threaten their viability. They said such a move might disrupt supply chains and reduce the economic competitiveness of coastal mills.
Their letters to the RDN highlighted that local wood producers depend on a mix of domestic manufacturing and export markets to balance business needs and regional jobs, and that a ban without transition support could do more harm than good.
Councillor Stands by the Idea
Nanaimo Coun. Paul Manly, who had introduced the original motion, voted against rescinding it. He said the debate over raw log exports remains important, especially in regions like Vancouver Island that are heavily tied to forestry and sawmill work.
Manly pointed out that about 97 per cent of Canada’s raw log exports come from B.C., much of it from coastal areas, and that this flow has long been criticized for stripping value from local industries. He believes calls for change should continue alongside support for transition measures that help wood manufacturers expand their capacity.
Broader Context: Forestry Policy Debates in B.C.
The raw log export issue has been a flashpoint in B.C. for years. Critics argue that shipping unprocessed logs overseas removes potential jobs and value that could be captured by local mills producing higher-value wood products, such as lumber, shingles or paneling. In response, the provincial government has already taken steps to require more domestic processing of certain types of lumber before export, especially cedar and cypress, under regulatory changes that aim to strengthen wood manufacturing and keep jobs in the province.
Supporters of raw log exports and industry leaders, meanwhile, say that outright bans without clear transition plans could strain mills and reduce access to global markets, leaving manufacturers less able to compete internationally.
Next Steps and Ongoing Debate
By withdrawing the motion, the RDN has paused formal regional advocacy on a raw log export ban — but it has not ended the broader conversation. Coun. Manly and others hope the discussion will continue at the AVICC convention and among other regional governments.
Some local labour groups have expressed support for stronger restrictions on raw log exports, saying the practice has contributed to mill closures and fewer forestry-sector jobs over time.
As forestry policy evolves in B.C., the debate over how best to balance local industry health, export access, and job creation is likely to remain a central issue. If you’d like, I can break down how raw log export rules work in B.C. and what export bans could mean for local mills and communities.
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