The timber harvested in the Merritt Timber Supply Area supports 1 578 person-years of provincial employment (205 direct) outside the area. Added to the employment generated in the timber supply area, this results in an estimated total of 2 830 person-years of employment (1 132 direct) within the province. The employment income generated by these jobs is $77.1 million per year. (SEA page ??)
Provincial government revenues generated from harvesting and processing timber from the Merritt Timber Supply Area (from taxes, stumpage, etc.) are approximately $26.3 million annually. These estimates were developed before the new Forest Renewal Plan was announced and do not include the increased stumpage revenues that are being generated through this plan. On a provincial basis, stumpage revenues are expected to increase by as much as 80 per cent, but it will not be possible to accurately estimate the impact of this change until the new policy has been in place for a period of time.
