Premier David Eby announced that his government will “reform” the forestry industry in the province.

During a speech at the Natural Resources Forum in Prince George on Tuesday, Eby said that the permitting process in the lumber industry is in need of long-overdue reforms.

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“We are moving away from a permit-by-permit system and towards an operational approach to forestry,” he said.

The premier argues that the forestry sector has been among the hardest hit by U.S. tariffs.

“Mills closed, people out of work, money for communities that they use for local activities are drying up,” he added.

During his speech, Eby also spoke on his most recent trip to India, highlighting market opportunities for B.C. in the world’s fifth-largest economy.

Eby highlighted the importance of diversifying trade amid tariff threats from the U.S.

He says that his delegation met with multiple potential customers interested in lumber from B.C.

Eby also says that recent agreements made by advancing wood construction in China will deliver results for the forestry industry.