Jul 02, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. The British Columbia government is accepting applications again from forestry workers for early retirement assistance, ForestTalk reports. Through the Community Development Trust's transition assistance program forest workers 60 year or older, and who meet the program eligibility requirements, may be able to access up to $35,000 as a bridge to retirement or other activities. The program has already helped thousands of workers in the troubled forest sector. The trust was created with $129 million in funding from Ottawa last year, and although 5,700 workers have been assisted by the fund, there is cash still remaining, including about $20 million in the transition assistance program. Applications will be accepted by the government until August 31st.