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For The Record

A STRONGER FOREST SECTOR FOR COMMUNITIES

Aug. 22, 2008
Ministry of Forests and Range
 
Letters to the Editor
Opinion Editorials
 

Forestry continues to be a key economic driver for the province – generating 13 per cent of provincial economic activity and accounting for 7.5 per cent of provincial employment.  Forestry is cyclical by nature, and for the past year, British Columbia’s forest sector has been facing a “perfect storm” – slumping U.S. housing, lowest lumber prices since 1991, and high Canadian dollar.

The provincial government has many programs in place to build on forestry’s strengths for communities and workers.

Community Development Trust

  • The Province has committed $129 million to forestry workers and forestry-dependent communities impacted by the market downturn.  The support is directed to three key areas:
  • Tuition Assistance Fund:  $17 million to provide an opportunity for forest workers to upgrade their skills, knowledge and education
  • Transitional Assistance for Older Workers:  $86 million for financial assistance to help older forest workers transition to retirement
  • Job Opportunities Program:  $26 million to support short-term employment opportunities in the forest sector – including $2 million each to Mackenzie and Fort St. James

Working Roundtable on Forestry

  • The 22-member Working Roundtable on Forestry has been charged with recommending a comprehensive, fiscally viable strategy aimed at making B.C.’s forest industry the most competitive, successful and productive it can be. 
  • The roundtable is gathering new and innovative ideas to develop its strategy. The roundtable’s progress will be reported to Cabinet quarterly, and its preliminary recommendations to Cabinet are to be developed by the end of 2008.

Regulatory Review

  • The Province recently completed a 90 day regulatory review to streamline and cut unnecessary red tape related to forest sector policies, processes and regulations.
  • Over 540 submissions in 26 subject areas were reviewed.
  • About 40 items were identified for immediately implementation, including:
    • Faster approval times for cutting permits and road permits
    • Increased ferry service on the Upper Arrow Lake to facilitate wood chip transport and tourism.
    • Ensuring all forest districts can accept and approve digital files of plans and permits
    • Recognizing new Ecosystem Based Management costs incurred by the coastal industry in stumpage rates

International Marketing and Research and Development

  • The U.S. is B.C.’s biggest market for wood products – 87 per cent of B.C.’s lumber is exported there. With the current sub-prime mortgage crisis and shrinking U.S. housing market, B.C. needs to expand other markets. 
  • Through Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd, $25 million per year is spent on new product development – including new uses for beetle-enhanced timber – and on international marketing of B.C. forest products. Lumber sales to China in the first half of 2008 were more than for all of 2008.

Economic Development and Diversification

  • Through the Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan, government is providing $7.8 million to the Cariboo-Chilcotin, Omineca and Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalitions for regional economic diversification planning and over $12 million to First Nations to help them sustain their communities and their culture. 
  • The $185-million Northern Development Initiative Trust has invested $32.9 million for 101 projects to date, leveraging total project expenditures of $205.5 million – this includes the $5-million QUEST project launched by Geoscience BC to help unlock the province’s mineral potential and stimulate new economic activity in central British Columbia.
  • The $50-million Southern Interior Development Trust and $50 million North Island Coastal Development Trust began accepting applications in spring 2007.
  • In total since 2001, the Province has invested $640 million in pine beetle related projects and the federal government has spent nearly $340 million. The province is also investing $35 million into a bioenergy strategy to pursue mountain pine beetle opportunities.

Further Programs

  • The $9.725-million, cost-shared by B.C. and the federal government, from the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, began delivering programs around the province in February, estimated to help about 900 unemployed forest sector workers.
  • The Ministry of Community Services’ Community Transition Program provides assistance to rural, remote, resource-based municipalities facing impacts from closure or significant downsizing of major industries.
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Letters to the Editor

February 26, 2009
Letter to the Editor
FIELD OFFICE IN NAKUSP TO REMAIN OPEN
By Pat Bell
Minister of Forests and Range
Submitted: Arrow Lakes News
Staus: Published March 3, 2009
I'm writing to correct the erroneous comments from Nelson-Creston New Democratic Party MLA Corky Evans in the Feb. 24th article, MLA says budget takes away from rural B.C. Mr. Evans is wrong to suggest that the Ministry of Forests and Range field office in Nakusp will close. [Read More]

February 17, 2009
Letter to the Editor
BC FOREST INDUSTRY HAS PROMISING FUTURE
By Pat Bell
Minister of Forests and Range
Submitted: Kimberley Daily Bulletin
Staus: Not published
I'm writing to disagree with the Feb. 17 column by Norm Macdonald, New Democratic Party MLA for Columbia-Revelstoke. It's clear Mr. Macdonald lacks a full understanding of the forest industry or the unprecedented economic conditions it's facing. I hope to provide a more complete snapshot of B.C.'s forest sector and its promising future.
[Read More]

February 4, 2009
Letter to the Editor
SIX STOREY WOOD BUILDINGS EXPAND DOMESTIC MARKET
By Rich Coleman
Minister of Housing and Social Development
Submitted: Times Colonist
Status: TBC
Increasing the height of wood buildings is part of the Province's efforts to increase environmental sustainability and expand domestic markets for B.C. wood products...  [Read More]

January 30, 2009
Letter to the Editor
PROVINCE ACTS RESPONSIBLY AROUND MACKENZIE MILL
By Pat Bell
Minister of Forests and Range
Submitted: Vancouver Sun
Status: Not published
For the benefit of your readers I wish to clarify information around the Mackenzie mill purchase in your January 29th article, "Not much of a 'partnership' on the public side of equation." [Read More]

January 28, 2009
Letter to the Editor
TAKING ACTION TO IMPROVE FISH PASSAGE
By Pat Bell
Minister of Forests and Range
Submitted: Times Colonist
Status: Published February 3, 2009
I'm writing in response to your Jan. 26th editorial about the Forest Practices Board's recent report on fish passage. While not an easy problem to fix, government has been taking action.  [Read More]

August 12, 2008
Letter to the Editor
FORT ST. JAMES WELL POSITIONED FOR FOREST OPPORTUNITIES
By Pat Bell
Minister of Forests and Range
Submitted: Prince George Citizen
Status: Not Published
There are few communities in British Columbia that are better positioned to take advantage of the forestry opportunities ahead than Fort St. James, which enjoys a strong timber supply and is home to operators who have confidence in the future. [Read More]

August 8, 2008
Letter to the Editor
LABOUR INVOLVED IN FORESTRY ROUNDTABLE
By Pat Bell
Minister of Forests and Range
Submitted: Times Colonist
Status: Not Published
I am writing to correct claims by Rick Wangler of the United Steelworkers in Courtenay ("Roundtable shuns union, Aug. 8") that the voice of labour is absent from the Forestry Roundtable, which has been assembled by the Premier to identify key issues and opportunities facing the forest sector in British Columbia. [Read More]

August 12, 2008
Letter to the Editor
FORT ST. JAMES WELL POSITIONED FOR FOREST OPPORTUNITIES
By Pat Bell
Minister of Forests and Range
Submitted: Prince George Citizen
Status: Not Published
There are few communities in British Columbia that are better positioned to take advantage of the forestry opportunities ahead than Fort St. James, which enjoys a strong timber supply and is home to operators who have confidence in the future. [Read More]

July 9, 2008
Letter to the Editor
BUILDING A STRONGER FOREST SECTOR FOR VANCOUVER ISLAND
By Pat Bell
Minister of Forests and Range
Submitted: Nanaimo Daily News
Status: Not Published
I find it unfortunate that the Nanaimo Daily News maintains a consistently pessimistic outlook on the forest industry. [Read More]

July 9, 2008
Letter to the Editor
MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE OF FORESTRY
By Pat Bell
Minister of Forests and Range
Submitted: Times Colonist
Status: Not Published
Your recent editorial paints a gloomy picture of a forest industry with no hope and certainly doesn’t reflect the message I’m hearing in my travels from workers, industry, and communities. [Read More]

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Opinion Editorials

February 27, 2009
Opinion Editorial
HEALTH AND SAFETY TOP PRIORITIES AT MACKENZIE MILL
By Pat Bell
Minister of Forests and Range
Submitted: Mackenzie Times
Status: Published March 3, 2009
I want you to know that the health and safety of local residents and mill employees is the Province's highest priority, which is why we have been monitoring the situation since Worthington Mackenzie Inc. announced plans last year to proceed with a warm shutdown of the Mackenzie kraft pulp mill. [Read More]

December 16, 2008
Opinion Editorial
FOREST SECTOR WILL REBOUND
By Pat Bell
Minister of Forests and Range
Submitted: Provincial media
Staus: Published December 23, 2008 (100 Mile House FP)
As the year draws to a close, it is a natural time to reflect on the accomplishments of 2008 and turn to the challenges and opportunities in the year ahead. [Read More]

May 15, 2008
Opinion Editorial
IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR FOREST WORKERS, COMMUNITIES
By Colin Hansen
Minister of Economic Development
Submitted: The Times (Mackenzie)
Staus: Published May 20, 2008
B.C.’s crucially important forest sector faces a perfect economic storm driven by external market forces – and the Province of British Columbia is responding now with timely assistance for forest workers and their families. [Read More]

February 28, 2008
Opinion Editorial
PROVINCE PROVIDING LEADERSHIP ON FORESTRY POLICY
By Rich Coleman
Minister of Forests and Range
Submitted: Province-wide
Staus: Not Published
In British Columbia today, forestry is faced with a cyclical downturn, requiring all parties to work together to generate innovative solutions. [Read More]