The Forest Employment Program (FEP / the Program) provides short-term employment opportunities for forestry contractors and workers to help mitigate the impacts of mill closures and curtailments due to changes in the forest sector. These opportunities are accessed through BC Bid.
FEP funds land-based projects. Projects are typically initiated and managed by the Province through:
In some cases, land-based projects proposed by local governments or Indigenous governments are funded through the FEP. A proposed project must:
To discuss an opportunity, contact the Program office at forestemploymentprogram@gov.bc.ca
Project Examples
Forestry contractors can review contract opportunities and submit pricing through BCBid.
Safe Certification
All contractors who work on FEP projects must be SAFE (Safety Accord Forestry Enterprise) Certified. SAFE Certified is a pre-qualification required to bid on forestry work in BC to ensure a minimum standard of safety in all forestry workplaces. Information on becoming SAFE Certified can be found on the BC Forest Safety website.
B.C. Employer Training Grant
The B.C. Employer Training Grant provides B.C. employers with skills training funding for their workforces, including prospective new hires. Employers can apply for funding to cover 80% of the cost of training, up to $10,000 per employee, with a maximum annual amount per employer of $300,000.
When impacted by a downturn in the forest sector, employers (including self-employed workers and contractors), who are looking to adapt to a new line of business are eligible for funding to reskill themselves or their employees.
More information on the B.C. Employer Training Grant is available here: https://www.workbc.ca/find-loans-and-grants/industry-and-employers/bc-employer-training-grant
Bridging to Retirement Program
The Bridging to Retirement program is open for impacted and voluntary full-time forestry workers at least 55 years old – including forestry-dependent contractors and their employees – to transition to retirement. Workers could be eligible for up to $75,000 in retirement bridging funding, depending on individual factors including years of experience, age at retirement and employer contribution.
More information on the Bridging to Retirement Program is available here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/supports-for-forestry-workers/retirement-bridging-program
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