Thomson Commits Cash to Help Address Labour Challenges in Pulp and Paper Sector
Thursday, April 4, 2013 @ 8:33 AM
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Prince George, B.C. – Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations for B.C. Steve Thomson opened the Council of Forest Industries convention in Prince George this morning, expressing optimism for the industry although he noted the challenges of recruitment and retention of skilled labour.
He announced the Province is making $126,500 to COFI to work with the pulp and paper sector to identify labour trends and gaps in the pulp and paper sector.
He also announced the Province will be providing $240 thousand over two years to the Beetle Action Coalitions in the province to help communities create jobs through the “Wood Waste to Rural Heat” program. This program will encourage small communities to increase the use of local wood waste in efficient and cost effective heating projects.
Thomson says the Province is also set to conduct a detailed inventory of fiber that will survey 35 million hectares. He says the Province intentionally waited until after the mountain beetle had finished its march through B.C. to ensure the inventory was accurate.
Overall, Thomson expressed optimism, citing the gains made in lumber exports, diversification of wood markets and increasing demand “This is an industry with a positive future, one we can be proud of.”
Comments
Monies to help the P&P industry to identify labor trends!? What a joke. The mills over a decade ago knew what was gong on. They knew the average age of their work force and when they would be retiring. So what did they do? They practically demolished their apprenticeship program and then relied on other mills shuttering so they could get those tradesmen they would need. Too bad the oilpatch came along with better enticements. Now they can go hat in hand to the taxpayers to help bail them out? Better yet lets just bring in cut rate Chinese workers.
In total agreement with you Denaljo. Industry you want workers ten train them instead of putting it to the taxpayer. Its your problem, you caused it, you fix it.
You got that right Denaljo.
cheers
Ditto what Denaljo said.
metalman.
Damn…there are B.C. Liberal politcians coughing up money everywhere!
Popping up like weeds in spring lawn!
Amazing!
Where is all the money really coming from?
And why now?
Why not before?
Oh wait…right…I forgot…there is an election coming!
And Denaljo…bang on!
Denaljo nailed it right on the head
there needs to be a new head tax on major industries that employ journeymen trades without an appropriate number of apprentices within their employment ranks … this constant pressure on the government to use general taxpayers dollars to solve an industry created problem is just not right … general taxpayers dollars are for our children, our health, etc. … not to bail out free loading industries … good enough for the government to fund the colleges, the trades courses, etc. … time for industry to pay for the salaries of required apprentice workers … it is not like the apprentice is doing NOTHING at work … jeez
They don’t want to train them because as soon as they become journey men they quit and head to Alta where the money is.
Noway … that is a common argument but it doesn’t make sense .. why don’t the current trades journeymen employed at the pulp mills all leave for Alberta? … there has to be something in the way newly qualified trades journeymen are treated if they do leave … but I haven’t seen any studies or stats to back this up …. what I do believe is that a qualified trades worker from Nfld or Ontario will pick Fort Mac for the high salaries because they intend to go back home to their families …so the mills here can’t poach qualified trades from elsewhere … it is like the Doctors being trained at UNBC … time to home grow more of our own … and treat them right
besides home grown always tastes better ;)
You guys do realize who owns Canfor..Little Jimmy Pattison…and you do realize who runs the Liberal gov….one the hell not give money to his own business
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