The Municipality of North Cowichan said it is hoping to reopen the Bridging to Retirement Program and lower the eligible age to increase support for workers affected by the Crofton mill closure.
Mayor Rob Douglas said he has asked the premier and the minister of forests to work with the federal government to reinstate the program, which was launched in 2021. He said the program is aimed at workers over 55 who do not “relish the idea” of retraining for new careers.
“We recognize workers who are in their 50s and 60s are in a tough spot and are able to access pensions,” Douglas said. “For obvious reasons some aren’t too excited about going back and getting retrained to work in a whole different field.”
The municipality would like to see the age limit lowered as soon as possible, but Douglas said the decision rests with the province and there is no definitive timeline for when workers or the municipality could see results.
“Ultimately it’s going to be up to the premier and the minister of labour and the provincial government when they’re going to open up applications,” he said. “The union leadership has been quite vocal on this as well and we’re hoping for some positive news sooner rather than later.”
The program ran from 2021 to 2025, but Douglas said the province stopped accepting applications in February of last year. He said he hopes applications will reopen quickly.
If approved, Douglas said the program could provide up to $75,000 in funding to eligible forestry workers to support their transition into retirement.
In addition to extending the Bridging to Retirement Program, the municipality is also seeking provincial and federal support for upskilling, reskilling and income supports, as well as employment services, career counselling and skills retraining.
