Forestry Missing From Provincial Budget
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 @ 11:42 AM
Prince George, B.C.- Provincial New Democrat Carol James slams the budget of Kevin Falcon, for failing to mention forestry.
Speaking on the Meisner program on CFISFM this morning, James says it was shocking that the entire budget did not mention forestry once “Not the word forests, not the forest industry, not once, in fact, it cuts $20 million dollars out of the forestry budget over the next two years. So, a failure, a big failure from my perspective.”
Minister Falcon disputes that claim. Speaking in a conference call this morning, he noted the Provincial government is accelerating silviculture activity throughout the province by increasing that investment by $10 million dollars to $78 million. Falcon says the Forestry Minister, Steve Thompson, is “Very much committed to doing everything we can to try and continue to support the lumber sector, particularly during a very difficult time, a time when U.S. housing starts continue to be anemic. One of the things we have made real progress in is opening up new markets particularly in China, and that has , I think , revitalized a segment of the sector, but there is still lots of work to do.”
James says the budget also fails to address the need for skills training as experienced workers in the resource sectors move towards retirement. “Any jobs plan that comes forward should have a strong component around skills training, around trades training, about making sure we are addressing so we will have people trained and ready to move into those positions. We didn’t se that in yesterday’s budget, we didn’t see it in the jobs plan the Premier brought out a number of months ago and we didn’t see it in the budget. In fact, colleges and universities are being cut in this budget at a time when we should be investing in education to build for those jobs for the future, to get people ready for the jobs for the future.”
Comments
Falcon missed the point, the amount of funding going towards our forests and protecting the interests of the people that own it has been cut to ribbons over the years, its all up to the forest industry to police themselfs which is a bloody crime.The industry still generates billions and the return to ensure we have a forest for the future $70 million for the Province , so funny
Carole James slams the BC Budget? I never would have guessed she would do that.
What, does Falcon think that the forestry industry may be in decline or something? The nerve!!!!! LOL.
On a more serious note, maybe they should have focused on what they were doing NOW to try and address the fact that the forestry industry will be going into decline. You know, that whole “invest now for the future” concept? Oh silly me, assuming that politicians can think beyond their expected term in office :)
They cannot think too far past their retirement date; you know – when they start collecting their big pensions that we pay for.
I see where there is training for foreigners and money seems to be no problem. Too bad if you happen to be an unemployed Canadian that has worked all of your life but fell on hard times. Well we will remember you on election day!!
I see where there is training for foreigners and money seems to be no problem. Too bad if you happen to be an unemployed Canadian that has worked all of your life but fell on hard times. Well we will remember you on election day!!
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