Minister of Forests, running again for the BC NDP in Langford-Highlands.
Ravi Parmar has been an MLA since a by-election in June 2023 and Minister of Forests since November 2024. In 2026 he introduced a law that widens the work of BC Timber Sales, the provincial agency that auctions timber, answered questions in the legislature on mill closures and old-growth logging, and said Budget 2026 pays for a new 2,000-seat secondary school in Langford.
A researched record of Ravi Parmar's 16 commitments, 12 dated actions and 13 public statements, with 4 news items. Most come from the legislature record and government releases of 2026.
On dates without a confirmed appearance the public schedule is unknown; the candidate may still have activities that day. This static page changes only when its research is updated.
01 / Introduction
About Ravi Parmar
Ravi Parmar is the BC NDP candidate in Langford-Highlands on Elections BC's list for the general election of October 24, 2026. He won the district in 2024 with 11,444 votes, 51.87% of the valid vote, according to the Elections BC statement of votes.
He first won a seat in the Langford-Juan de Fuca by-election of June 24, 2023, with 7,279 votes, 53.39% of the valid vote, according to the Elections BC statement of votes for that by-election. The legislature record lists his election years as 2023 and 2024.
The legislature record shows him as Minister of Forests from November 18, 2024. A government release of February 20, 2024 names him Parliamentary Secretary for International Credentials. The government's ministry biography also calls him Deputy Government House Leader. voche.me did not find a start date for that role.
Before the legislature he was a trustee of the Sooke School District. The district's own news page of December 16, 2020 says he was first elected to the board in 2014, became chair in 2017 and was re-elected chair for a third term that month. A district page of April 12, 2023 says he took a leave from the chair role while he ran for MLA.
In the legislature in 2026 he answered questions on mill closures, forestry jobs, old-growth forests, exports of unprocessed (raw) logs and wildfire. He introduced Bill 14, the Forests Statutes Amendment Act, 2026, on March 30. The transcript of April 21, 2026 records that the bill passed third reading with no member voting against it.
His campaign page says he was the youngest member of the current legislature and that he worked with the BC NDP government on new schools while he chaired the school board. Those are statements by his campaign. voche.me did not check them against another record.
Published positions and selected commitments, separated by election cycle. Status labels describe the evidence reviewed, not a numerical score or a complete audit of the platform. Council approval is different from delivery.
16 commitments shown · Checked Sep 30
2026 · EconomyIn progress
Widen the work of BC Timber Sales (Bill 14)
At first reading on March 30, 2026, Parmar said Bill 14 lets BC Timber Sales hire logging contractors directly, thin forests, reduce wildfire risk and sell timber damaged by fire sooner. The transcript of April 21, 2026 records that the bill passed third reading.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
The bill names the changes. CBC News reported the ministry's figure of up to 17,700 more truckloads of wood fibre. On April 14 he said the bill spends no new money and uses funds BC Timber Sales already has. He gave no date for the first contracts. voche.me did not check whether the bill has become law.
What still needs checking
How many truckloads of timber do the new BC Timber Sales contracts deliver in the first year?
In the Forests estimates debate on March 12, 2026, Parmar said he is committed to his mandate and to more harvesting. A government release of August 27, 2026 that quotes him gives the aim as a yearly harvest of 45 million cubic metres.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
The release gives the 45 million figure. In the March 10 debate opposition MLA Ward Stamer put the current harvest at 29 million cubic metres. Parmar gave no date for reaching 45 million and said tariffs and lumber prices limit what he can do.
What still needs checking
What was the harvest in 2026, and by what year does the ministry expect 45 million cubic metres?
In question period on February 18, 2026, Parmar said Budget 2026 brings in a stumpage payment deferral program. The provincial government's timber pricing page says stumpage is the fee paid to the government for timber cut on public land. In the estimates debate of March 10 he said companies were already using the program to keep operating.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He names the program and the budget. He gave no dollar amount, no number of companies and no end date.
What still needs checking
How much in fees was deferred, and when must companies repay it?
In his budget speech on February 18, 2026, Parmar said Budget 2026 pays for a new Forestry Innovation Investment office in the United Kingdom, and that British Columbia must sell more wood in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He names the office and the budget. He gave no cost, no opening date and no export figure to reach.
What still needs checking
Has the United Kingdom office opened, and what share of wood exports now goes outside the United States?
A government release of August 27, 2026 quotes Parmar on a Working Forest Landscape Model. It divides chosen areas into a zone where timber comes first, a mixed-use zone and a conservation zone. A release of September 15, 2026 names an area near Campbell River as the first place to study it.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
The releases name the model, the first area and fall 2026. They give no cost and no size in hectares for any zone. The releases are the government's own account.
What still needs checking
Which other areas are chosen, and how many hectares go into each zone?
In question period on April 2, 2026, Parmar said the government ordered an old-growth review, wrote an action plan and is carrying it out. On February 25 he said harvesting was paused on 2.6 million hectares of old forest in 2022. On May 20 he said he is committed to meeting the action plan.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
The 2.6 million hectares describes a pause made in 2022, so it earns no target point. He named no new area to protect and no date for finishing the plan. Green MLA Rob Botterell said on May 20 that the government does not carry out its forest reviews in full.
What still needs checking
Which recommendations of the old-growth review are finished, and is any new area protected?
A government release of September 13, 2026 quotes Parmar on the FireSmart program, which pays local governments and First Nations for projects that lower wildfire risk. It says $15 million from Budget 2026 is available and applications open on October 1, 2026. He named the same $15 million in question period on May 28.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
The release gives the money and the opening date. It gives no number of projects to be funded in 2027.
What still needs checking
How many communities receive 2027 funding, and is the program funded after that?
Build a 2,000-seat secondary school in north Langford
In his budget speech on February 18, 2026, Parmar said Budget 2026 puts nearly $220 million into a 2,000-seat secondary school in north Langford, that construction starts in 2027 and that the school opens in 2030. His campaign page repeats the school and the 2027 start.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He gives the seats, the cost and the dates. The Sooke School District page on the project says the school is expected to open in 2033. voche.me did not find which date is current.
What still needs checking
Does construction start in 2027, and does the school open in 2030 or 2033?
In his budget speech on February 18, 2026, Parmar said Budget 2026 continues work on a long-term care home in Royal Bay, Colwood, for the West Shore area.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He names the budget. He gave no bed count, cost or opening date. voche.me did not find the current schedule for this home.
What still needs checking
When does construction start, and how many beds will the home have?
In his budget speech on February 18, 2026, Parmar defended a $400 million strategic investment fund in Budget 2026. He said it lets the Province join projects that the federal government is paying for.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He names the fund and its size. He named no project and no date. The fund belongs to the budget as a whole.
What still needs checking
Which projects received money from the fund in 2026?
In the Bill 14 debate on April 14, 2026, Parmar said First Nations held 3 percent of the allowed yearly harvest in 2003 and hold more than 22 percent in 2026, and that the government is continuing that work.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He gives the two shares. He named no share to reach and no date. voche.me did not check the two figures against ministry data.
What still needs checking
What share of the allowed harvest do First Nations hold at the end of 2027?
In question period on May 4, 2026, Parmar said the Heritage Conservation Act no longer serves the public, and that the government is reviewing the comments it received on a policy paper about changing the act.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
He named no date for a bill and no cost. In the same sitting an opposition member asked him to withdraw a remark about that member's position, and he withdrew it.
What still needs checking
Is a bill to change the act introduced, and what does it change for permits?
The BC NDP platform page says the party capped rent increases below inflation, gives renters a yearly $400 rebate and lowered ICBC car insurance rates by $500 a year. The page does not name Parmar.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
Party text. voche.me found no 2026 statement by Parmar on these measures.
What still needs checking
Does Parmar speak on rent or insurance costs during the campaign?
The BC NDP platform page says the Speculation Tax turned more than 20,000 empty condos into long-term homes and that the party limited short-term rentals. The page does not name Parmar.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
Party text. voche.me found no 2026 statement by Parmar on housing policy.
What still needs checking
Does Parmar state a housing measure during the campaign?
The BC NDP platform page lists keeping people safe as one of its six headings, and his campaign page repeats the heading. Neither page gives a measure in his name.
Evidence & next checks
Evidence reviewed
Party text. voche.me found no 2026 statement by Parmar on public safety.
What still needs checking
Does Parmar speak on public safety during the campaign?
Recorded votes and government programs where an official source names him. A government program is the government's; it is listed here only where the release quotes him.
Announced
Support package for businesses affected by United States tariffs
The Province announced $90 million for four business programs and said applications from the forestry sector are reviewed first. The government release quotes Parmar.
Scope, limits and sources
The Premier and the acting Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth are also quoted. The release is the government's own account.
The Province and the Nanwakolas Council named an area near Campbell River as the first place to study the Working Forest Landscape Model. The government release quotes Parmar.
Scope, limits and sources
The release says this is the start of a study phase. It sets no zone boundaries.
The McLeod Lake Mackenzie Community Forest was invited to grow by almost 10,400 hectares, and the North Island Community Forest expansion advanced. The government release quotes Parmar.
Scope, limits and sources
A community forest is a forest licence run by a local government, community group or First Nation, as the release explains.
The Province said $15 million is available for community wildfire protection projects, with applications from October 1, 2026. The government release quotes Parmar.
Scope, limits and sources
The release says more than 300 communities have received this funding before.
Bill 14, the Forests Statutes Amendment Act, 2026, passed third reading
Parmar introduced the bill on March 30, 2026 and voted yes at third reading on April 21. The transcript records the motion as approved by every member voting.
Scope, limits and sources
voche.me did not open a record showing the date the bill became law.
Voted yes on third reading of the freedom of information bill (Bill 9)
The recorded vote index lists Parmar voting yes at second and third reading of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026.
Scope, limits and sources
voche.me did not read the bill, so its content is left out here.
The Province announced nearly $220 million for a 2,000-seat secondary school in Langford. The government release quotes Parmar as the local MLA, and Victoria News reported that he spoke at the event.
Scope, limits and sources
The release gives 2027 for the start of construction. Victoria News gives 2030 for the opening, and the school district page gives 2033.
Read original statements and reporting, or open the publisher’s video. A summary of a speech is labelled separately from a full recording.
Speech
Budget speech
Parmar spoke on United States tariffs, a forestry trade trip to Japan and South Korea, the new Langford school, a long-term care home in Colwood and the forests budget.
Question period on mill closures and forestry jobs
Asked about the mill closure in 100 Mile House and lost jobs, Parmar named tariffs, wildfire and the end of the pine beetle harvest as causes, and said BC Timber Sales sales rose 30 percent in one year.
Parmar said the bill follows a 2025 review of BC Timber Sales, that the agency has not been successful in recent years, and that the bill uses money the agency already has. He began the speech on April 2 and finished it on April 14.
Parmar defended the review of the act. Later that day he withdrew a remark about an opposition member's position after that member raised a point of order.
Parmar said a change to the fee on exported unprocessed (raw) logs is a trial asked for by industry and First Nations, and that raw log exports fell 80 percent since 2017.
Parmar said Budget 2026 adds $15 million for community wildfire protection, and that the government put another $14 million into tools for wildland firefighters.
After Domtar announced it would stop production with no restart date, Parmar said pulp prices were approaching their lowest level in 100 years, adjusted for inflation, and promised income and mental health support for workers.
Records are labelled by type, including official findings, civil proceedings and political disputes where applicable. Each entry identifies the response found in the sources and the latest status verified for this page.
Policy dispute
Mill closures and forestry job losses
In question period on March 5, 2026, opposition MLA Ward Stamer said 16 sawmills and pulp mills closed and 15,000 jobs were lost in three years. Opposition MLA Heather Maahs said the government promised 30,000 new jobs and delivered 15,000 job losses. These are the opposition's figures. voche.me did not check them.
Candidate or party response
Parmar said tariffs, wildfire and the end of the pine beetle harvest hurt the forest sector, and that 45,000 direct forestry jobs were lost under the earlier BC Liberal government. That figure is his. voche.me did not check it.
Verified status and limits
Canfor announced the closure of its Northwood pulp mill in July 2026, and Domtar announced it would stop production at its Howe Sound pulp mill with no restart date in August 2026, according to his ministry statements.
Green MLA Rob Botterell said in question period on February 25 and May 20, 2026 that the government had lowered the fee meant to discourage exports of unprocessed (raw) logs and does not carry out its forest reviews in full. He asked whether it would protect more old growth.
Candidate or party response
Parmar said harvesting is paused on 2.6 million hectares of old forest, that the fee change is a trial supported by industry and First Nations, and that he is committed to the old-growth action plan.
Verified status and limits
voche.me found no ruling or independent review of this dispute on 2026-09-30.
A dated reading list from independent publishers. The headings below are voche.me summaries; follow each link for the original article, context and any corrections.
Sources checked September 30, 2026. Official records establish decisions; campaign material establishes stated positions; reporting adds investigation and context. None alone establishes every claim.
The campaign page lists no events and no platform of his own beyond the Langford school. The campaign page says he "served" as Minister of Forests; the legislature record showed the role as active on this date. His Facebook and Instagram pages show only a profile line to a direct read, and his X page shows no posts, so nothing from them is used. The Forests estimates debates of March 10, March 12 and March 30, 2026 and the Bill 14 second reading speech were read for his main answers and not line by line. The committee debates on Bill 14 of April 16, 20 and 21 were not read. Votes are taken from the vote index; only the Bill 14 third reading transcript was opened. voche.me did not check whether Bill 14 has become law. Figures he gave in debate, such as job losses under an earlier government, BC Timber Sales sales and raw log exports, are his statements and were not checked against ministry data. The Sierra Club BC release on BC Timber Sales, the Prince George Citizen report on tariff help and a Business in Vancouver report answered HTTP 403 and were not used. The BC NDP caucus page answered HTTP 503. Black Press pages on his 2023 resignation from the school board showed no article text, so the date he left the board is not confirmed. No Sooke School District minutes were opened; the school board facts come from three district news pages. The campaign claim that he was the youngest member of the legislature, and the ministry biography's statement that he chaired the Council of Canadian Forest Ministers, were not checked with the legislature or the council. His work as an adviser and chief of staff to ministers before 2023 is stated in the legislature's member biography and by him in debate, and was not checked against a government staff record. The Langford school opening is given as 2030 by him and by Victoria News and as 2033 by the school district. voche.me found no 2026 statement by him on housing, the cost of living, public safety or transportation. No 2026 all-candidates meeting for Langford-Highlands was found. Campaign finances and endorsements were not reviewed. The questionnaire has not been sent.
Research status
What voche.me has checked
Evidence reviewed on 2026-09-30: the Elections BC candidate list, the 2024 statement of votes and the 2023 by-election statement of votes, the legislature's member data and its 2026 speech and vote indexes, 14 transcripts of 2026 sittings, 10 government releases, the ministry biography, three Sooke School District pages, his campaign page, the BC NDP platform page and release list, and reports from CBC News and Black Press.
His commitments on this page come from what he said in the legislature and in government releases in 2026. His campaign page states one measure, the new secondary school in north Langford. Sections with no entry record that voche.me found nothing on this date.
Trustee, Sooke School District; board chair from 2017
The district says he was first elected in 2014 and became chair in 2017. He took a leave from the chair role in April 2023. voche.me did not open a district record of the date he left the board.
Proposed questions for a future interview. They have not been sent to the candidate, and no answers have been supplied.
No questions and answers have been supplied.
Have your own question?
Ask Ravi Parmar directly. We send it to the campaign, and publish the reply here if we get one.
05 / About this page
Questions about this page
Facts voche.me can state about Ravi Parmar's page itself, answered directly rather than left blank.
Is this an official page for Ravi Parmar?
No. This page is researched by voche.me from public sources, listed below, and is separate from Ravi Parmar's own campaign.
What party is Ravi Parmar running with?
Ravi Parmar is running for MLA with BC NDP.
Does Ravi Parmar currently hold public office?
Yes. Ravi Parmar currently serves as Minister of Forests; MLA for Langford-Highlands.
How many sources does this Ravi Parmar profile cite?
This profile lists 5 sourced references, each with the date voche.me checked it, in the Sources section below.
Why do some questions on Ravi Parmar's page show no answer?
The "Questions & answers" section on this page lists questions voche.me would put to Ravi Parmar in a future interview. They have not been sent yet, so the page says plainly that no answer has been supplied instead of leaving the section blank.
When is the election Ravi Parmar is running in?
The 2026 British Columbia election, including the MLA race, is decided on October 24, 2026.
06 / Candidate contributions
Space for campaign updates
No campaign updates yet
Announcements, event details and messages can be added here, with their source and publication date. No campaign submission has been added.
