The Liberal Kamloops-North MLA says the provincial government should’ve been asking for federal help with B.C. forestry three months ago.

Peter Milobar says the Opposition in government was calling for this measure in the spring and says the request fell on deaf ears.

“Often opposition gets criticized for not coming up with solutions or ideas, and we did just that. We put down five things that need to be addressed by the provincial government, some with the federal government. One of them was around federal supports. EI issues, how severance would be counted, those types of situations with the federal government,” Milobar says.

“Unfortunately they fell on deaf ears for three months. Now we’re seeing a panic and a rush. Premier Horgan had no problem having the phone number of the Prime Minister when he was trying to stop the Trans-Mountain pipeline, yet he seems to have lost the phone number when it comes to forestry workers. And all we’re hearing is silence from the NDP for the first three months, and now panicked reaction.”

With the federal government expected to dissolve as soon as next week when the writ drops, Milobar says the province asking for help now may be too late for any immediate action.