The issue of raw log exports always a hot button in British Columbia, is once again in the headlines, after this weeks announcement of an increase in the amount of raw logs that will be allowed to be exported from British Columbia.
The province released details (see press release here) on its long awaited Coastal Forestry Plan, which included a decision to allow 35 per cent of the raw logs harvested on the North and Central coasts to be exported without being offered to local buyers, while at the same time they reduced the fees for buyers looking for raw resources from the BC forest lands.
As well as part of the change in direction for the forest industry, the government has included the Queen Charlotte Islands in the plan. The Liberal strategy seems to be one that dictates that expanded exports are necessary in order keep the remaining few jobs associated with harvesting in the region.
Any thoughts of a local value added industry associated with the forest sector seems to have been thrown out the window, while 35 per cent of the trees in our area are now destined to provide jobs in some other community, in some other country.
Over the last number of years, Prince Rupert has seen the decimation of its local forest industry, with the closure of the pulp mill and the dismantling and sale of North Coast Timber. Over 700 direct jobs and who knows how many secondary ones have disappeared, all in a period of time that log exports have been on the increase.
It’s a troublesome aspect of the industry that has caught the attention of the opposition member for the North Coast Gary Coons and the NDP MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley, Nathan Cullen, both of whom shared their thoughts on the issue with the Daily News.
The background on the issue and the reaction to it was part of Friday’s newspaper.
The province released details (see press release here) on its long awaited Coastal Forestry Plan, which included a decision to allow 35 per cent of the raw logs harvested on the North and Central coasts to be exported without being offered to local buyers, while at the same time they reduced the fees for buyers looking for raw resources from the BC forest lands.
As well as part of the change in direction for the forest industry, the government has included the Queen Charlotte Islands in the plan. The Liberal strategy seems to be one that dictates that expanded exports are necessary in order keep the remaining few jobs associated with harvesting in the region.
Any thoughts of a local value added industry associated with the forest sector seems to have been thrown out the window, while 35 per cent of the trees in our area are now destined to provide jobs in some other community, in some other country.
Over the last number of years, Prince Rupert has seen the decimation of its local forest industry, with the closure of the pulp mill and the dismantling and sale of North Coast Timber. Over 700 direct jobs and who knows how many secondary ones have disappeared, all in a period of time that log exports have been on the increase.
It’s a troublesome aspect of the industry that has caught the attention of the opposition member for the North Coast Gary Coons and the NDP MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley, Nathan Cullen, both of whom shared their thoughts on the issue with the Daily News.
The background on the issue and the reaction to it was part of Friday’s newspaper.
Victoria is washing its hands of forestry, says NDP
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, November 02, 2007
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, November 02, 2007
Pages one and three
By committing to increased log exports, the provincial Liberals are giving up on the forest industry in the Northwest, according to politicians and union officials representing the region.
Earlier this week, the provincial government announced its long-awaited Coastal Forestry Plan, which included a commitment to continue to allow 35 per cent of raw logs harvested on the North and Central Coasts to be exported without being offered to domestic log buyers, and which expanded this order to include the Queen Charlotte Islands.
They also reduced the fees for raw log exports.
After waiting two years to see the Coastal Forestry Plan, North Coast MLA Gary Coons was angered and disappointed by what he read.
"This action plan falls way short to help out those workers and communities that need it the most. This will not rebuild the manufacturing sector in the Northwest. Nor will it help the people on the Charlottes, particularly in the long-term. Log exports exchange short-term gain for long-term pain," said Coons.
"The expansion of log exports to the Queen Charlottes coupled with the continuation of old-growth logging will lead to the devastation of our vulnerable coastal forests."
Since the Liberals came in to power in 2001, Prince Rupert has seen the closure of the Watson Island Pulp mill, which was sold and has not operated since. The West Fraser specialty sawmill in the industrial park, North Coast Timber, was also sold and since then has been completely dismantled and auctioned off. Together, these facilities provided 700 jobs directly in Prince Rupert.
And last week, West Fraser announced it would be closing its sawmill in Terrace, resulting in the loss of another 80 jobs. The 20 managers at the mill are being moved to other facilities.
The union representing forestry workers from the Terrace sawmill called the expansion of raw log exports a mean-spirited insult "It is mean-spirited to announce that we have to export Crown logs from that area because of a lack of local processing capacity mere days after it was announced the last Central Coast sawmill is closing," said Bob Matters, United Steelworks Wood Council chair.
Steve Hunt, western Canadian director for the United Steelworkers Union, said the province did not consult communities or workers for their input on the Coastal Forestry Plan, so there's no surprise there is not much in it for communities.
"Of course, we always welcome new money for silviculture and research, but the changes to log export policy miss the mark and the other new components are little more than a repackaging of the same ideas we've been hearing for the past few years.
"And while Minister Coleman dithered, dozens of mills closed down and raw log exports have sky-rocketed."
In recent years, a significant portion of forestry tenure in the Northwest has been taken back from large companies and redistributed to First Nations and communities.
In the Coastal Forestry Plan, the Liberals say the expanded exports are necessary to keep the remaining few jobs associated with harvesting in the region.
And in a previous provincial government report on raw log exports, it acknowledged that First Nations and communities entering the forest industry on the North and Central Coasts will need to continue with raw log exports in order for their forestry ventures to be financially feasible.
However, Coons said this sounds like an excuse to allow logs to be shipped to US mills, with very little benefit to B.C., while providing no investment into B.C.'s industry.
"There is nothing in this plan to build First Nations capacity to ensure they get not only harvesting but manufacturing jobs from their forests," said Coons.
"There is nothing in this plan to deal with the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic for the Northwest which only highlights the minister's ignorance on the issue."
Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen, who applauded the provincial Liberals for their involvement in establishing the Great Bear Rainforest initiative to develop environmentally friendly businesses on the coast, added his voice to the chorus of disappointment over the expansion of raw log exports.
"The idea that raw log exports are somehow a good idea is perplexing to me. We have mills shutting down as we have many smaller companies having trouble getting access to wood. We have a provincial government that has made claims they want to eliminate raw log exports and on the other hand they increase them. What do you believe - the words or the actions?" said Cullen.
"Increasing raw log exports is increasing the export of jobs."
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