The regional alliance has passed a motion to push for a comprehensive ban on log exports.

The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) has formally adopted a motion at its annual meeting held from September 16 to 18, designating the "promotion of a comprehensive ban on raw log exports in B.C." as a core policy advocacy goal. The motion, submitted by the City of Nanaimo, will now be used to urge provincial government action on forestry policy reforms.

The motion directly addresses pressing industry challenges: acute shortages of domestic timber supply and soaring procurement costs have forced numerous sawmills and pulp mills to continuously reduce production or shut down permanently, resulting in significant job losses and reduced tax revenues for resource-dependent communities.

Data shows that over the past five years, B.C. has exported between 2.8 and 3.5 million cubic meters of logs annually. The motion calls on the provincial government, in collaboration with the federal government, to implement a ban restricting direct exports of raw logs and primary lumber products. This measure aims to push the industry toward higher-value-added processing, preserve local forestry jobs, and support domestic mills through targeted incentives to upgrade technology and improve utilization rates across various marketable tree species.

Under B.C.'s current Forest Act, logs must undergo a "residual volume test" before export—first offering them to domestic buyers. Only if no local demand exists can they be exported. However, Nanaimo city councillor Paul Manly, who initiated the motion, pointed out clear flaws in this system: as more mills close within the province, fewer domestic buyers are available to absorb logs, making it easier for exporters to pass the residual volume test and obtain export permits. This creates a vicious cycle: mill closures lead to increased exports, which in turn further shrink domestic processing capacity.

According to the 2025 B.C. Forestry Economic Report, log exports during 2024–2025 remained stable at approximately CAD 400 million in value, with China as the top destination, accounting for CAD 220 million in 2025, followed by Japan and the United States. Manly emphasized that timber harvested locally should first serve domestic processing industries rather than being exported as raw materials, only to later import finished wood products from abroad—an outcome entirely contrary to the original purpose of resource development.

This motion is not the first of its kind; UBCM committees noted that member municipalities have previously advanced similar requests, consistently urging the provincial government to enhance local community benefits from forest resources through initiatives such as establishing community forests and providing incentives for high-value-added processing. Prior to submission to UBCM, the motion already received formal endorsement from the Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities Association and will now proceed into the provincial policy advocacy process.

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