To the Editor,
Re: Asian log buyers outbidding domestic mills, March 17.
Recently, the B.C. Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations overruled recommendations from the government’s own Timber Export Advisory Committee (86 times this past December and January).
The minister allowed 100,000 cubic metres of logs to be exported, disregarding the committee’s view that the logs should be processed in coastal mills.
This decision resulted in a Lower Mainland company stating they will layoff shifts due to a log shortage.
During question period, the NDP repeatedly asked the minister responsible to explain why the logs were approved for export to China, at the expense of manufacturing jobs here in B.C. The Minister would not answer the question.
It should be noted that on the coast of B.C. in 2011, between 40 and 50 per cent of every log harvested was exported; a record 5.5 million cubic metres of raw logs were exported from this province.
This dramatic increase is being touted by export supporters as a positive sign for the industry, when in reality the ever increasing volume of exports is anything but positive.
During the last decade, the forest industry has lost 70 wood manufacturing operations and more than 35,000 family supporting jobs.
The current policies might be good for short-sighted profit seekers, but the B.C. Liberals’ actions continue to lead this province down a destructive path of outsourcing manufacturing to low paying jurisdictions, at the expense of manufacturing jobs here at home.
The only silver lining is that we get to decide in May 2013 if we want to stay on this destructive path or elect a party that understands that British Columbians deserve a much better return from our resources.
Brian Butler
1st Vice President
United Steelworkers Local 1-1937
