Young: special committee’s integrity questioned
To the editor:
This will be my submission to Special Committee on Timber Supply.
It seems a positive step to visit communities that have an interest in the declining timber supply. There are, however, certain matters to be addressed regarding this committee.
The first non-debate item on the potential action list is harvesting in protected and reserve areas. This would indicate what the committee proposes to do despite any protest.
The second non-debatable item on the list is harvesting “marginally economic timber,” which really means anything goes.
If the committee has any real intention to properly relate to this matter, then it must make note of the five northern mayors who do not want harvesting in protected areas, nor does the Pulp and Paper Workers of Canada.
The integrity of the committee may fairly be in question when important issues are not on the table for debate.
Case in point is the many times the Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thompson has simply ignored the recommendations of his ministry’s Timber Export Advisory Committee. Never mind that British Columbia mills could use these prime logs, the minister seems to be led by certain large corporate interests that have only one objective – make as much money as possible in the shortest time possible and have no interest in serving the forestry manufacturing sector.
The coastal areas of B.C. have a great deal of harvestable timber, and while it may involve some migration of local loggers, the jobs could be there and the forest management is excellent.
Regardless of the visits and information gathered, it is the integrity of this special committee that needs to be reviewed.
Gary Young
Cariboo-Chilcotin Independent candidate
