Value-Added Accelerators

Working together to sustain, diversify and grow B.C.’s value-added wood manufacturing is a key government commitment to help get more value jobs from the trees we harvest. The new Value-Added Accelerators (VAA) will play an important role in making this happen.

On this page:

• What are the Accelerators?
• Who’s involved in the Accelerators?
• What has already happened with the Accelerators?
• How can I get involved?
• How will BC Timber Sales’ new Value-Added Manufacturing program link with the Accelerators?

What are the Accelerators?

The purpose of the Value-Added Accelerators (VAA) is to develop a suite of solutions to grow value-added manufacturing in BC, as a critical element of an integrated, competitive forest industry.

The objectives of the Value-Added Accelerators are to:

• Build trust and positive working relationships among the parties and increase business-to-business partnerships between primary and secondary wood manufacturers for long-term, mutual benefit
• Gather current data on the value-added sector, including current fibre usage, fibre requirements, and other pertinent data, to enable the development of quantifiable measurables related to growth of value-added manufacturing
• Propose durable and sustainable actions, programs and policy solutions to increase the flow of fibre (logs and lumber) to value-added manufacturers
• Increase First Nations participation and partnerships in the value-added sector

Who’s involved in the Accelerators?

The Value-Added Accelerators are being led in partnership by the BC Value-Added Wood Coalition (BCVAWC), Council of Forest Industries (COFI), the First Nations Forestry Council (FNFC), BC Timber Sales and the Ministry of Forests. A working group of representatives is guided by a provincial steering committee.

What has already happened with the Accelerators?

The Accelerators have brought together licensees, value-added wood manufacturers, First Nations and the Province to gain input on the three main themes identified: First Nations initiatives, business partnerships and government actions, programs and policies.

The Value-Added Accelerators hosted an open house at the BC Wood’s Global Buyer’s Mission on September 7, 2023, with the purposes of sharing information about the Value-Added Accelerators with BC wood manufacturers and gathering information to support the accelerator process.

Virtual launch sessions were held in October 2023 for each of the North, South and Coast areas. These were followed up with in-person sessions in November to December 2023, in the North (Prince George), South (Kelowna) and Coast (Abbotsford), with an online session option for other attendees.

We received 56 pages of feedback from our engagement sessions. The partners have distilled this information and developed a Plan for B.C.'s Value Added Accelerators (PDF, 3MB) which we have agreed to work on together.

We are continuing to work together and explore the feedback we received, to develop a suite of solutions to grow value-added manufacturing in B.C. as a critical element of an integrated, competitive forest industry.

How can I get involved?

The Provincial Steering Committee, after reviewing the information received through the engagement sessions, has developed a plan of initial actions and recommendations. The Steering Committee is continuing to examine the information and feedback received during the engagement process and develop further actions.

The Steering Committee would like to hear your thoughts on how the Value-Added Accelerators can be successful in the goal of supporting and growing value-added manufacturing in B.C.

Complete the survey to share your thoughts.

Email Forest.Policy@gov.bc.ca to be added to the mailing list for updates and information on B.C.’s Value-Added Accelerators.

How will BC Timber Sales’ new Value-Added Manufacturing program link with the Value-Added Accelerators?

BC Timber Sales (BCTS) – part of the Ministry of Forests and a partner in the Accelerators – is supporting the value-added sector by introducing the new BCTS Value-Added Manufacturing Program. This program will have a dedicated supply of fibre for value-added manufacturers, and the Ministry is actively exploring increasing this volume.