OTTAWA, March 22, 2010 – A new study from the Forest Products Sector Council (FPSC-CSPF) entitled Challenges and Impacts: Labour Market Transition Programs for Laid-Off Forest Products Workers in Canada highlights the challenges laid-off forest workers face in forest-dependent communities across Canada. 

“During the last five years the Canadian forest products sector has faced unprecedented challenges due to declining demand for wood and paper products, global competition and the recession,” says Kent Elliott, Director, Human Resources for West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. and co-chair of the FPSC-CSPF Board of Directors (BOD). “This study is an important first step in recognizing the impact of the crisis and in focussing actions to assist transitioning forestry workers.” 

During the last five years, the report notes, approximately 100,000 jobs have been lost and while many have moved on to other employment or retirement, nearly 40,000 remain unemployed. 

“The impact of the crisis on Canadian forest products workers and the communities they live in has been devastating,” says Kim Ginter, Administrative Vice President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union and co-chair of the FPSC-CSPF BOD. “How we collectively deal with this situation now will affect the health of the industry, workers and communities in years to come.” 

Governments, at all levels, have developed a range of labour market programs and initiatives in response to the economic slowdown. The recent Speech from the Throne and Budget 2010 contain several measures – including an expansion of Work Sharing programs, the Career Transition Assistance Initiative and the extension of EI benefit periods – that expand the reach of programming available to employers, unions and laid-off workers. 

The research suggests that workers, unions and employers are often not aware of the extent of the programming that may be available. “Making sure people can fully participate in the income and other support programs is a communications and coordination challenge,” says Keith Lancastle, Executive Director, FPSC-CSPF. “Our Council will be examining options to respond to this challenge and to improve on this situation.” 

FPSC-CSPF will be looking for ways to provide information and insight to help laid-off forest workers and employers deal more effectively with layoffs. 

“Solutions cannot fall to one stakeholder group to implement. A partnership between the labour market stakeholders – business, labour and governments -- represents the best chance of navigating through this crisis, of transitioning and re-training workers, and preparing a workforce that’s ready for an eventual recovery,” says Ginter. 

“While the difficulties of the last few years have been significant,” says Elliott, “the sector is looking forward to a more promising future. Demand for traditional Canadian lumber and forest products will improve. Last month, the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) released a ground-breaking and exhaustive study on the future of the sector. The BioPathways study demonstrates that the integration of bio-products and bio-energy into the existing industry is part of the winning solution for the future. Realizing this future success depends, in large part, on the sector having skilled workers – in the communities where the industry operates.” 

The summary report is now available for download through the FPSC website (www.fpsc-cspf.ca).

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About the Forest Products Sector Council
The Forest Products Sector Council (FPSC-CSPF) is an independent, not-for-profit organization, funded by the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program. FPSC-CSPF provides pan-Canadian leadership and coordination in the development of strategic responses and interventions that address current and emerging human resource and labour market issues in the Canadian forest products sector. At the heart of FPSC’s mandate is the necessity to address these human resource issues through partnerships and collaborative efforts. Established in 2008, FPSC-CSPF is governed by a Board of Directors who represent business, labour, Aboriginal and educational stakeholders.

For more information:
Keith Lancastle, Executive Director
Forest Products Sector Council
613-794-5352
info@fpsc-cspf.ca