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Most of B.C.'s forest land is publicly owned, so companies have long-term tenure rights and the government charges them stumpage to harvest trees. In contrast, most land in the U.S. is private and companies face costs associated with replanting.
"That's what the stumpage fee is all about," explained Ken Peacock, chief economist of the Business Council of B.C. "It tries to equate, if it was privately owned, what the cost would be to operate and manage and reforest the land."
Peacock said the high cost of logs is the major cause of the industry's decline in B.C. He also blamed the mountain pine beetle and record-breaking 2017 and 2018 fire seasons for decimating supply.
The policies of Premier John Horgan's government are also breeding uncertainty, Peacock argued.
