August 4, 2026 Vancouver, British Columbia Natural Resources Canada
Canada's forest sector is facing significant pressure: unjustified tariffs, supply chain constraints, shifting global markets and the impacts of climate change. These challenges are being felt in British Columbia, where the forest sector plays an important role in the province's economy and in the economic well-being of Indigenous communities.
Today, Wade Grant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced over $1.2 million in funding to Iskum Investments LP for a project that will lay the groundwork for a potential new state-of-the-art wood processing facility in coastal British Columbia that would be majority Indigenous-owned and operated and could support over 700 jobs along British Columbia's coast.
The funding, provided by Natural Resources Canada's Indigenous Forestry Initiative, will support the completion of a detailed commercial, technical and financial analysis needed to reach a final investment decision.
Amidst a volatile global environment, the Government of Canada is focusing on what we can control by supporting the forest sector to adapt and thrive for generations to come. We are investing in innovation and fostering strong partnerships to create opportunities for Indigenous participation and leadership, strengthen local economies and support the prosperity of forest-reliant communities across British Columbia and beyond.
