From forestry to food banks, what’s in Budget 2026 for British Columbia?

The federal budget handed down on Thursday includes funding pledges that are expected to benefit British Columbia.

Here’s a look at some of them.

FORESTRY BOOST

The budget is proposing $6.5 billion in funding to support the forestry sector nationally over six years.

It doesn’t provide a province-by-province breakdown, although it points out that B.C. accounts for 29 per cent of the national forest sector’s GDP, representing the biggest share in Canada.

There’s $4 billion for a new “forestry sector accelerator” to make investments in large facilities and major transformations of existing facilities, “including biorefineries, biofuel facilities, and other facilities producing higher-value and innovative forest products.”

A further $2 billion is to help businesses in the forest sector modernize and expand, while $500 million goes towards strengthening fibre supply chains and supporting forest management.

EARTHQUAKE INSURANCE

The budget notes the significant earthquake risk in southwest B.C. and elsewhere.

It announces planned legislation to establish the Canadian Earthquake Insurance Facility.

The facility would be funded by levies on insurers and provide emergency funding of up to $50 billion to the insurance sector after an “extreme” earthquake.

INDIGENOUS LOAN GUARANTEE

Budget 2026 announces a $64-million loan guarantee to support the Tla’amin Nation acquiring 100 per cent ownership of Western Forest Products’ Stillwater Forest Operation, which the budget says will provide stable revenues and creating economic opportunities.

SALMON PLEDGE

The budget’s $3.7-billion nature strategy includes a pledge to protect, conserve and restore wild Pacific salmon in B.C. and the Yukon.

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

The budget lists a series of B.C. projects being targeted for funding by the Build Communities Strong Fund. They include the revitalization of a rooftop garden at Vancouver’s Chinese Canadian Museum, playing field facilities at the Mackie and Hawthorne Park in Delta, the implementation of a master plan for Hume Park in New Westminster and funding for the Cowichan Valley Basket Society, a food bank in Duncan.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2026.

Canadian Press Staff, The Canadian Press