BC’s natural-resource people hold their annual conventions and conferences this month — and politicians can expect to hear much from them.
Events coming up:
- Truck Loggers Association convention, Jan 14-16, Vancouver. (Register: https://ow.ly/cb4750XSwlO)
- BC Natural Resources Forum, Jan. 20-22, Prince George. (Registration: https://ow.ly/rign50XSwnY)
- The Vancouver Resource Investment Conference, Jan. 25-26, Vancouver. (Tickets: https://ow.ly/rkw150XSwqC)
- The Association for Mineral Exploration Roundup, Jan. 26-29, Vancouver: (Register: https://ow.ly/MVVL50XSwtG)
Truck loggers first up
The Truck Loggers Association get-together comes as the BC forest sector has been facing a tough series of closures and curtailments of sawmills and pulp mills, and thus workforce reductions.
And as forestry commentator David Elstone says: “The fibre-supply crisis has continued to worsen, and . . . the industry is in far worse condition than ever before.”
Along with the Truck Loggers, the Council of Forest Industries (COFI) notes the impact of hefty import duties and tariffs on lumber exports to the US market, and a slowdown in house-building in the US.
In 2025, the US more than tripled its tariffs and duties on imported BC softwood lumber to more than 45 per cent.
Said COFI: “It is important to focus on the areas within our control, and those remain the core issues facing BC forestry: access to predictable, economic wood supply and the ability to operate in a competitive and efficient regulatory environment.”
TLA message to BC
The Truck Loggers, after last fall’s BC Forestry Summit, spoke of hearing “encouraging remarks” from BC Premier David Eby and Dominic LeBlanc, federal minister of intergovernmental affairs, infrastructure and communities.
“Their commitment to a coordinated national approach in addressing softwood lumber tariffs is an important step toward ensuring the long-term stability and competitiveness of Canada’s forest sector. As the backbone of most BC communities, the TLA appreciates today’s much needed recognition that forestry remains critical to both BC and Canada’s economies.”
But in yet another message to politicians, the TLA added: “BC was once the lowest cost lumber producer in North America and is now amongst the highest, making it increasingly difficult to operate in today’s market environment. There is an urgent need to improve certainty by diversifying markets, enhancing access to fibre, and reducing costs to ensure the industry’s long-term viability and global competitiveness.”
Forum hears from First Nations
The BC Natural Resources Forum says that over the past 23 years it has become Western Canada’s largest multi-sector resource conference bringing together First Nations, government, and the natural-resource sector to discuss opportunities, innovative solutions and success stories.
As with the other major conventions this month, the Forum will discuss relations with First Nations affected by, and interested in partnership in, natural-resource development.
The Forum’s agenda features a series of First Nations speakers and panellists, a keynote luncheon speech by Chief Willie Sellars of the Williams Lake First Nation, a panel on Indigenous leadership, and a closing “Conversation Live” on Indigenous Successes in Northern BC.
Speakers also include Premier David Eby, his forests minister, Ravi Parmar; Brittny Anderson, BC minister of state for local government and rural communities; and there’s a BC resource ministers’ breakfast on Jan. 16.
A Resource Works invitation
A prime event on the eve of the BC Natural Resources Forum, on Jan. 19, is the Alliance of Resource Communities Reception.
Do join Resource Works there to meet municipal leaders and learn about the new Alliance of Resource Communities (ARC), which aims to champion responsible resource development, close the rural–urban divide, and elevate the voice of communities across the province.
Learn about ARC’s plans for 2026 and its growing role in supporting B.C.’s resource communities.The event is free, and you can reserve tickets here.
This special event is hosted by Resource Works and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
Investors eye gold and silver
The Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC) notes that it is happening as gold and silver prices have been breaking records.
The price of gold climbed above US$4,500 an ounce in late December 2025, and are still around $4,300-$4,400, with analysts seeing potential for further gains – perhaps to as much as $5,000 an ounce – this year. Silver prices began to surge in late 2025, its strongest year on record, in which prices rose 148%, and it hit $74 per ounce as this year opened.
Canada is the fourth largest producer of gold in the world, and 2.2% of the world’s known gold reserves are in Canada.
VRIC expects more than 9,000 people to attend, to hear from 120 keynote speakers, and to visit 300 mining companies in the Exhibition Hall.
The Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) Roundup includes a government-industry forum on Jan. 26:
“Successful Canadian mineral exploration and development are essential to prosperity, sovereignty and providing the minerals that the world needs. This session addresses major policy issues impacting the industry today and lively discussion about the future of mineral exploration.”
That session and others, and, indeed, all the natural-resource conventions this month, will have powerful messages for governments federal, provincial, and municipal.
May their ears be open. . . .
More photos from the BC Natural Resources Forum 2025 here.
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