Why does British Columbia have restrictions on log exports?
A16. In British Columbia, logs from both private and public land must be deemed surplus to provincial needs before a log can be exported, with the provincial government applying a surplus test to logs from provincial Crown lands and the federal government applying a surplus test to logs harvested from private and federal lands in the province. Under B.C.’s surplus testing process, domestic processors may bid on these logs, and only if the logs are deemed surplus to domestic requirements may an export permit be granted. Most log exports come from B.C. private land, which accounts for only 3% of B.C.’s commercial forests. Private landowners may export logs, as long as surplus testing is undertaken and federal regulations are met. There is no outright ban on log exports. Federal export permits are required for log exports from all provinces and territories.
