By National President of the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC), Geoff Dawe
For generations, forestry has been the economic backbone of countless communities across British Columbia. The men and women who work in our forests, mills, and wood-processing plants are among the most skilled and dedicated workers in this province. The Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) has always stood firmly beside them, fighting for good jobs, sustainable forest practices, and a forestry industry that builds local communities rather than stripping them of their future.
Unfortunately, the practices of Mosaic Forest Management continue to undermine that vision.
Mosaic—formed by TimberWest and Island Timberlands—controls vast portions of private forest lands on Vancouver Island. With that control comes responsibility: to the environment, to communities, and to the workers whose livelihoods depend on a stable, sustainable forest economy. But rather than meeting those responsibilities, Mosaic has chosen a path that shortchanges British Columbians and accelerates long-term environmental and economic harm.
Federally Regulated Export of Raw Logs: Shipping Jobs Overseas
Let’s start with the most obvious problem: Mosaic’s heavy reliance on raw log exports.
When raw logs leave British Columbia unprocessed, so do the jobs, the wages, the community stability, and the opportunity for long-term economic development. Federally regulated raw log exports represent the hollowing out of our forest sector, and Mosaic is one of the largest contributors to this destructive trend.
Instead of supporting local mills, investing in value-added manufacturing, or helping maintain the forestry towns that rely on these operations, Mosaic chooses to ship unprocessed logs to foreign markets where they are turned into lumber, products, and profits—none of which return to British Columbians.
The PPWC has been unequivocal for decades: federal raw log exports must be banned. A strong, sustainable forest economy depends on value-added production here at home, not exporting the raw materials that should be processed by BC workers. Every log sent overseas is a job lost in British Columbia. It is time to end this practice once and for all.
Mosaic’s Environmental Damage and Clear-Cut Practices
The economic concerns are matched, if not surpassed, by Mosaic’s environmental record.
Mosaic continues to practise destructive intensive logging, much of it clear-cutting, across ecologically sensitive areas of Vancouver Island. These practices have well-documented impacts: destabilized hillsides, degraded wildlife habitat, and long-lasting harm to watersheds relied upon by communities, fish populations, and ecosystems.
The workers of the PPWC believe in sustainable forestry. Our livelihoods depend on healthy forests, healthy watersheds, and long-term planning. But Mosaic’s approach is short-term and profit-driven. Forest ecosystems are treated as expendable, not renewable. When companies treat forests as though they are unlimited, it’s workers and communities who pay the price once the land has been stripped bare.
Mosaic Lack of Transparency and Accountability
Mosaic’s operations are shrouded in obscurity. Whether it’s federal regulated raw log export volumes, the impacts of logging on watersheds, or the details of its access and land-use decisions, the company often provides only the minimum information required—and even that begrudgingly.
Communities deserve transparency. Workers deserve transparency. Indigenous Nations, whose unceded territories cover much of the land Mosaic profits from, deserve transparency. Yet Mosaic has repeatedly been criticized for failing to engage openly with local governments, Indigenous leaders, and community groups. When a company holds so much power over so much land and resources, secrecy is unacceptable.
Mosaic Conflicts with Indigenous and Local Communities
Mosaic’s relationship with Indigenous Nations and local businesses has been marked by tension and conflict. Concerns over land-use rights, long-term access, partnership agreements, and control of timber supply have harmed trust and strained relationships.
Forestry in British Columbia must move toward meaningful reconciliation and shared decision-making. Companies cannot simply dictate terms or prioritize exports over the needs of Indigenous communities and local businesses that rely on stable, predictable access to timber.
A Call for a Forestry Future That Works for Workers and Communities
The PPWC stands for a sustainable, community-driven forest economy. That means:
- Banning federal regulated export of raw logs to protect BC jobs
- Sustainable harvesting practices that protect ecosystems and watersheds
- Transparent business practices that hold giant corporations like Mosaic accountable
- Respectful engagement with Indigenous Nations and local communities that sees them as partners, not adversaries
- Supporting domestic mills based on value-added, decent-paying, unionized jobs that will develop a vibrant forestry sector well into the future
Mosaic has the opportunity to change course—but until it does, our union will continue to hold the company accountable. The Public and Private Workers of Canada believes our forests belong to all British Columbians, our jobs are worth protecting, and our communities are worth fighting for.
In Solidarity,
Geoff Dawe
National President, Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC)
nationalpresident@ppwc.ca
ppwc.ca
