Like his Kamloops counterpart Cathy McLeod, the Merritt-area Member of Parliament says the Federal Government has to step up and help affected forestry workers.

Dan Albas says there’s been a lot of talk about a good working relationship between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier John Horgan, but he says forestry communities haven’t seen the benefits of that relationship.

“People in these communities are challenged. They need to have supports,” he said on NL Newsday. “All we see right now from the provincial government is taking money from Rural BC and other funds and then giving them to other communities, some that need it, and some that don’t.”

As an example Albas says, while Kelowna has lost its mill as well, that is not the only job option for many residents there, unlike in places like Vavenby or Chasm.

“Kelowna is a much different area than some of these other communities up north. Kelowna is not a one-mill town. You know, those families are just as important in Kelowna as they are in other parts of the province, but those smaller communities are harder hit,” Albas added.

He says they’ve written to the Federal Government asking for help, but so far it’s been ‘radio silence’ from Ottawa.

“When you have two leaders who have it within their power to show that there are some bright spots and to make some changes whether it be the provincial or the federal level, to help those communities say that there is going to be a light at the end of the tunnel,” Albas noted.

“They have yet to do that, and that’s something that I think absolutely lies at the feet of Justin Trudeau.”

Albas says he wants the Federal Government to listen to MP’s in the affected areas of B.C., irrespective of their party stripes.