Im in shock from the good news!

Good news for sure! I bet the thousands that have left Mackenzie will be happy for the few that get a job. Good thing the socialist Liberals are doling out corporate welfare.

^^^^ WTF ^^^^

Good news!

Pat Bell is a very effective MLA. He puts his money where his mouth is.He is a doer!!

Way to go, looks like the Socialist are gonna have to find another excuse. Or are they just going to be a bunch of spin doctors.

Way to go Pat.

EXCELLENT NEWS!!!!
If Pat Bell gets re-elected, I hope that they re-instate him as Forest Minister.
He has done alot of good work and it would be a real shame that he wouldn't be able to finish what he started.

sure, pay them to start up till after the election then boom, they shut it back down! BYE BYE Libberals!

EXCELLENT NEWS!!!!
If Pat Bell gets re-elected, I hope that they re-instate him as Forest Minister.
He has done alot of good work and it would be a real shame that he wouldn't be able to finish what he started.

As much as this seems to be good news for these workers in Mackenzie, it was at a huge cost to these Canfor employees. These employees took a 18% wage cut (approximately $5 dollars per hour less). When you are making $30 per hour in a certified position, this is devastating. They are also taking a hit on their pension plans.

As I recall reading an article on Canfor's most recent curtailments here in Prince George, I just don't understand how all of a sudden they can reopen their Mackenzie operation.

I think Prince George, Canfor employees will have a lot to worry about as they will be next to take major pay cuts.

Funny how this is coming out now, with just 11 days left until we vote. Hopefully, people in the north will not be fooled by this sudden reopening of the Mackenzie mill. Just remember why these mills closed in the first place.

WONDERFUL NEWS! Also good for Pat Bell. I hope he can separate himself from Shirley Bond who has damaged our community.

It is wonderful news...
any one else notice how the Liberals are right there...seems as if they are using this and other activites as campainging....look how good we are, we did this....

Pay cut, well, maybe if you really believe in the company buy its shares personally. They are at bargain prices.

Making twenty five dollars an hour eight hours a day, five days a week. HMMMMM you want us to feel sorry for you.

Interesting how 60 jobs in Mack seems to upset some people on here.

This is GREAT NEWS for our town and its people.... which by the way IMO the people of this town are amazing!! with all that we've dealt with in the past year... you still see smiling faces and determination!! Great Town Great Residents..

Good news for sure. Paycut, well it's the sign of the times with the economic downturn. A cut in pension, that's another story.
I hope they run for more than 3 months, at least the next layoff, some of the workers have enough hours to be back on EI.
But look forward to running off/on due to market conditions and lumber prices.

This is great news for Mackenzie. They need a boost.

I seem to have a memory trace about a statement Pat Bell made right before or right after he became Forest and Range Minister -- something along the lines that a direct flight should be created between Mackenzie and Fort McMurray. Does anyone else remember this? If so, I think this feels like an election ploy. Sorry for my cynicism.

So the guy who invented his name today sounds like an NDP plant....Oh! I get it! No wonder they were twitchy about comments on political issues.
The opening of any mill time in mackenzie is good news. Look forward to more work there in the future by the way. The conditions that caused the shutdowns may still linger but this is an ebb and flow business.

Damn good news!
Congratulations to all those who will get to go back to work after some tough times!
Considering the timing of the announcement,it only has a trace of election odor to it,but that must be just a coincidence!

In early July?? Has anyone been called back yet?

After witnessing several announcements of imaginary start-ups in other places, I'll wait until the first shift starts before celebrating.

I support the working class: "These employees took a 18% wage cut (approximately $5 dollars per hour less). When you are making $30 per hour in a certified position, this is devastating. They are also taking a hit on their pension plans."

Devastating, but these are facts of life. GM, Ford and Chrysler workers (and many others in other jobs) are doing the same.

When the global recession eases up things will change for the better again.

Many who lost their jobs altogether wish they would have had the option to keep working with reduced wages and benefits. That includes millions of white collar workers as well.

Seems a little fishy to me. The timing is perfect for a pending election. I understand that the Liberals have a good chance of losing seats in the Interior.

To suggest that lumber produced in MacKenzie is somehow different than that produced by PG Sawmills, Rustads, Isle Pierre, or Clear Lake is just BS. These mills have either taken down time or are presently down.

If Canfor needed extra lumber they would not have taken downtime at these mills, and in fact they would have probably added a few shifts rather than start up the mill in Mackenzie, at a cost of $5 Million.

There is a lot more to this than meets the eye. The concessions made by Mackenzie will be expected by other mills over time.

Have a nice day.

IAM
Just how has Shirley Bond damaged our community? Lay out the facts or do not make that kind of statement.
I have seen her in action privately and she is VERY effective and in the best interests of the community. What information/facts do you have that beg to differ?

To be fair, Bell has scored a point this week against NDP in his constituency by doing the right thing and picking up the phone and urging Canfor and to reopen the mill which will put 150 more meals on the table of 150 families.

I want to see what Bell will do about the dire situation in UNBC reported in the comments below this article:

http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/42632132.html

If Bell uses his ministerial power and
he delivers on this illegal and troubling UNBC case, then I am sure he has convinced many UNBC staff and students to consider voting for him. Although it is Shirley Bond's job to pick up the phone and ask Jago to go the extra mile and do the job, but Bell has also brought money
to UNBC.

The voters say: "Show me the money", "show me the jobs" and we will show you the vote.

agitprop

I too have seen her in action, privately, and let me say, she was quite hurtful, and dropped the ball, clearly aware of the impact her actions would have in a certain situation. I am sure she had more important things to deal with, in her mind.
I do not have to lay out details, nor will I. But I will briefly summarize. Shirely Bond felt comfortable enough to ignore several constituents in need, and I say, "shame on her"! The true measure for me, is how these politicans treat the youth, or otherwise vulnerable. I do understand that decisions can not always go our way. But to not address those folks who are in need and to ignore those brave enough to approach a politician, well, that is incredibly disrespectful! After one response, ("we will look into it") Shirley Bond completely ignored these folks, and her office did the same. These people continued to contact her office by phone, and in writing. No response, no feedback, and these were youth with a very real concern. So no, I do not respect her actions and I am not a believer in her "community service". What I have seen, while just a small piece of her work, has been incredibly harmful!

agitprop, I put some related information on the table relavant to your request from IAM. The verbatim emails are on the comments section of the bclocalnews article posted around 2 weeks ego. Let's see what Shirley Bond will do about them and will she restore the trust in UNBC administration?

I am sure her assistants check this site and I hope she wont request her assistant Dustie Hall to get rid of the grieving professor and his justified complaint.
Because if she does that then it will come up on the Internet and she has damaged her own chances for re-election, even if she avoids participating in the upcoming forum not to answer the question face to face in public.

They say: "sun comes out from behind the clouds", and it could be "from behind the microphone".

I am being cautiously optimistic here. I hope they follow through on their plan to open the mill once again but I will believe it when I see it.

caranmacil,
Not an NDP plant. sorry to disappoint you. But I am a new poster. To satisfy you I guess I should have waited until after the election to post...or I could ignore your false accusations. Think I will do the latter. But thanks for coming on out, and have a nice day.

I hope this is a sincere gesture and not a way to grab more votes. The Libs have been dropping a lot of money lately so it's rather suspicious. But they all do this don't they?!

agitprop, I put some related information on the table relavant to your request from IAM. The verbatim emails are on the comments section of the bclocalnews article posted around 2 weeks ego. Let's see what Shirley Bond will do about them and will she restore the trust in UNBC administration?

I am sure her assistants check this site and I hope she wont request her assistant Dustie Hall to get rid of the grieving professor and his justified complaint.
Because if she does that then it will come up on the Internet and she has damaged her own chances for re-election, even if she avoids participating in the upcoming forum not to answer the question face to face in public.

They say: "sun comes out from behind the clouds", and it could be "from behind the microphone".

If anyone wishes to read a good (and reasonably short) article which describes why we are having our present economic "correction", check out the following link.

http://news.goldseek.com/DailyReckoning/1241204219.php

Anybody notice what month it is,election coming up very soon, no...are you sure, ya about 10 days away, what a perfect time to announce something that might happen in July. It never ceases to amuse me how certain people fall for this BS over and over again, it's not like it has'nt happened before. Nice big pat on the back there Pat.(Pun intended)

Did Pat Bell even attended the meeting,at Canfor this afternoon!! I was told that he was not even there!! Wonder Why !!! Pretty sure Pattison has patted Bell pockets for this election.(what to you think with a $97000 contribution) Mr. Bell is alot of talk with very little action. With him being the Minister of Forest, what exactly has he done for our town of Mackenzie (the communitiy that has been the hardest hit in the province)He was full of promises at our town rally, in regards to no log exporting, log homes building, rock pitts. I don't know about anyone else, I've heard nothing about any on those issues. A person has really got to wonder about the mill opening!! It has a smell to it that stinks?!!! What ever Canfor is up to, you can bet they'll be the one benefitting. The mill states that the concessions that the union made will remain private,and so they should. Reasoning being they should be embarrassed about how they made the workers feel like they had no choose but to accept. There are a lot of hurting people in this town, nothing like hitting a person when their down!!!

I think the credit should go to the guys & gals who agreed to the pay cut.....Ouch! What exactly did a politician do in all this? Methinks it's just Canfor's endorsement at election time. Anyone witness Mr. Bell's role in this?

I think the credit should go to the guys & gals who agreed to the pay cut.....Ouch! What exactly did a politician do in all this? Methinks it's just Canfor's endorsement at election time. Anyone witness Mr. Bell's role in this?

Good work! Pat Bell is one of the Best Forest Ministers the province has ever had.

I agree govsux....far too much credit being given to politicians, considering the timing of the announcement.
It is the people of Mackenzie who hung in there that should getting the kudo's!
While this is in fact good news,it is not without a price.
And had there not been an election in the wind,would this announcement come sooner...or later,if at all?
Obviously Canfor supports the Campbell Liberals,so no suprises there.
I think Pat Bell is taking a lot more credit for this than he has earned,but that's called "politics".
I seriously doubt that Bell has the power to influence Canfor,and that makes me think this is an election warm fuzzy to boost the Liberals chances on May 12.
Politicians have such a large ego's that a seperate truck is needed to haul it around behind them!
I am happy for those returning to work, but unfortunately, it remains to be seen just how long it will last.
I am sure considering what they have been through,all concerned are fully aware of that.
Let's hope for the best,but be careful who you trust!

Andyfreeze, it is clear to me that this announcement would have been accepted by you without any criticism if we would have an MLA and a provincial government from any different party.

All politicians have large egos and so do many who support their party or disapprove of it.

It's easy to be perfect if one doesn't have to make important decisions that affect a lot of people. It's impossible to please all of the people all of the time.

"Good work! Pat Bell is one of the best Forest Ministers the province has ever had."

Well, yes! I have very few complaints except that almost any subject brought up on this site leads to immediate passionate bashing of the government. Most of it is purely ideological and usually nothing but hot air.

Cheers!

I don't think opening Canfor in Mackenzie has anything to do with Pat Bell what so ever, they wanted out of the fibre deal with Pope and Talbot and that is why they shut it down and now they are out off the deal so they are opening the mill again. But it is good news for Mackenzie.

Good for Mackenzie, lets hope it last for a while.
Kinda easy to put in perspective when you consider that the talk (which could all be rumor, but I don't think so)on the street is Canfor Radium is going down indefinite and so is Isle Pierre.
Watch your butts you guys in Mackenzie, you will probably see more logs moving out of your community and into P.G. Remember, it's easier to give out some crumbs when people are hungry rather than give back the whole cake.
Most of this is about politics as our political leader needed to have something that could be construed to be positive happen in Mackenzie to sway the vote his way. He has been throwing money around everywhere except in Mackenzie, he was forced to play his trump card...remember the connection between our political leaders and Canfors elite, they are political buds.
Was there not well over 500 direct jobs taken away combined between Canfor and AbitibiBowater...60 jobs returned including suppliers is minuscule when this is considered.
I am Happy for the community of Mackenzie but any politician should be embarrassed to stand up in front of a group of people who have had their food money taken away and left to starve because they were a high cost producer only to have them later announce that they are going to be given back less than one tenth of what they had to begin with.
By the way the talk is the union agreed to significant reductions (rumor again states better than 20% across the board, I was told this by Canfor Employees in P.G., Houston & Quesnel)just to get back to work. I wonder how long it will be before this is implemented in other plants within Canfor operations.

Just because the snake appears to move away after biting you does not mean it will not bite or strike again...proceed with caution.

Diplomat...I think I am just plain tired of being lied to and manipulated by politicians who insist on telling us what they think we want to hear, and this Liberal government is as bad for that as they come!
To be honest,they scare the hell out of me!
Much of what they say they will do never happens, particularly if there is an election in the wind.
And in the case of Mackenzie,it has been one disappointment after another.
So yes, this is great news,but considering the disappointments up until now and the timing,it is safer to be a little cautious until you hear the saws running!
As I mentioned,there IS an election coming!
You seem to think I support another party,but in actual fact I have voted either Social Credit or Liberal all my adult life.
I have NEVER voted NDP.
It has only been the Campbell government that has made me re-think that and I am still undecided.
And if this government gets bashed on this site,there is probably a very good reason for that!
They ask for it!
When it comes to trusting politicians,their track record shows that that is not always wise.
Scepticism keeps them on there toes!
Now, the sun is shining,the barby is up and running, and a glass of single malt and ice awaits!
Cheers amigo!

"The Libs have been dropping a lot of money lately so it's rather suspicious. But they all do this don't they?!"

Right, and right. That's how it works.

At least it is more creative than sending everyone in the province a $100 refund cheque from ICBC and then finding out our insurance rates have to go up so they can pay back the money.

Bingo on that one thereasonableman!

Well Andyfreeze, that's a great comment!

You say that this Liberal government scares the hell out of you! Don't be scared, amigo! The prospect of another NDP inspired string of disasters doesn't scare the hell out of ME! I won't LIKE another round of that kind of *social* engineering but I can always go to this site (if it happens) and say: "I told you so!"

Life is great in this great province of the great country of Canada! People who visit me from other countries can't figure out why we are such a dedicated bunch of complainers!

Things are really bad almost anywhere else and people complain a lot less than us!

Off to the barby and a cool glass or two of Hell's Gate India Pale Ale!

Cheers!

It's contract year for the Steelworkers. I bet it will be very interesting negotiations this time. I've also heard the same thing as Windigo...Canfor is going to close 2 mills this year, one in PG and one some where else in BC. Mackenzie was closed for many reasons, including their management, their high costs and the chip contract. They've gotten rid of all that and are reopening the mill which is wonderful news. And it is the employees and the people of Mackenzie who deserve all the credit, not Pat Bell. Way to go Mackenzie. I'm thrilled for all of you!

I am surprised that Canfor hasn't (yet) approached Prince George City Council and asked for a reduction in the amount of taxes their sawmills and pulp mills pay to the city.

i too feel Pat bell had very little to do with the actual dealings.. he makes a nice announcement but we will see. where was he the last few months when the closure of abitibi was happening.. the whole damn town out of work.. and today another ludicris building project going on in the lower mainland a soccer training school... all very nice in flush times but its all empty words from the libs

Good point thedogs!
This the soccer training school crap really blew my mind!
At a time like this, with all the economic woes we are facing and all the bills that are going to come due from what they have already spent,it is absolutely incredible!
That is a cheap vote buy and nothing less and the sure sign of a party who thinks they are in trouble.
I know for sure now...Campbell and crew really are going to break this province!
Any government that will throw money around that they don't have,simply to get themselves re-elected at any cost, is just plain dangerous.
Sort of makes you wonder what another party would actually find in the books if they did win?
Thank's Gordo...you just helped me make up my mind!

Come into my den said the Spider to the Fly.

Canfor, and other companies of its ilk, have long term plans,that are changing on a regular basis. The only reason for the companies to be here is to make money.

The Government is responsible for putting in legislation, enforcing laws, etc; however it is not responsible for providing jobs for every individual in British Columbia.

We have situations where there is a shortage of workers in one area, and a surplus of workers in another area. In both cases the workers or the companies are bitching that the Government should be doing something about it.

I had an old friend who used to say.

IF YOU WANT POTATOES, THEN YOU BETTER GET A SHOVEL AND START DIGGING.

This Country needs more good, productive workers, and less bitchers and bellyachers.

Pat Bell is not the one of the best forest Ministers we have had. In fact he doesnt even come close. He is mostly Huff and Puff.

The best Forest Minister BC ever had was Ray Williston, Minister of Mines, Forests, and Water resources, who was involved in the creation of the Williston Dam, the creation of the City of Mackenzie, and the attendent Sawmills, Paper Mills, and Pulp Mills, along with the Pulp Mills in Prince George, and with the establishment of the BC Rail North to Fort Nelson, etc; the list goes on.

Pat Bell so far hasnt done anything of any significance, nor has his fellow Liberals.

Hopefully in a few days they will be able to rest on thier laurels, and we will have some kine of a coalition Government, which will a least be able to stop the plundering.

Windigo-
To clarify what some of the reductions are is 18% across the board, plus if not 55 years old by July 01, 2011- you lose 50% of your retirement medical benefits (regardless of years of service), roll back in holiday weeks plus %. Oh but Mr.Bell stood in front of our town at our town rally and stated that logs were not going to be exported out of town!!!! (Can you smell something that smells?)Just to let everyone know that the way the Citizen read this morning it sounded like Mr.Bell attended the annoucement out at the Canfor mill on friday,when the truth be know he was not in attendence. What's wrong with this picture if Pat had so might to do with the opening? He was in town and appeared in front of the District Office with the Mayor of Mackenzie after the annoucement. People are hurting big time in our one industry town. Pat, as our Minister of Forest has done very little for us. When everything was going great for the forest industry the provinvce had no problem with the 5% of total tax revenue that Mackenzie produced for the province. Totally agree that he is playing his trump card, and we have alot to be leary about!!

Ah .... Ray Williston, the creator of unsustainable resource communities ......

Ah .... Ray Williston, the creator of domestic economic imperialism .... remove the resources from where they can be found and bring them to the lower mainland where value can be added to them by people housed in tall office towers and low profile, relatively clean light industry complexes.

Palopu: "This Country needs more good, productive workers, and less bitchers and bellyachers."

Oh, no kidding. The usual bitching and bellyaching is reaching new record levels of intensity - including the new slant of American style attack ads - during the election campaign and the result of all the mudslinging is going to be exactly what?

A government that only about half the people who voted wanted, no matter who wins.

Didn't the Canfor workers in Fort Nelson take a pay cut just before Canfor shut it down? I seem to remember the Liberals giving concessions there too. I truly hope this bodes well for the workers who need this to hapen.

Gus, I would agree with Palopu's comments about Ray Williston, who was, without a doubt, the best Forests Minister in the best Government this Province has ever had.

The resource-based communities created in that era were not "unsustainable" then, nor are they now, in any "physical" sense of that word.

The ONLY thing that has led to the demise or decline of any of them is the fact that successor governments did NOT understand "finance", and make the moves that could have been made to control and limit the type of financial inflation that will inevitably cause all the perversions you refer to.

The current BC Liberal government has been, for whatever small successes it may claim over the eight years it has been in office, the absolute worst government we have ever had in addressing this vital issue.

For a group that is supposed to be led by business-oriented people, with a Premier who holds an MBA degree, to not be able to discern the difference between 'inflation' and 'prosperity' is scandalous. Their ignorance has induced and enhanced the former, which will ultimately destroy any jurisdiction in which it's allowed to take root and thrive. While needlessly denying far too many of us the latter.

The NDP may well not be any better, but it's hard to imagine, even given the unfortunate economic circumstances that attended their past term of office and their inherent political ineptness in confusing what "ought" to be with what actually "is", that they could be any worse.

In any case, there is a cancer of corruption growing at the top of the present regime, and while the chemotherapy needed to kill it might be quite unpleasant and cause an adverse reaction amongst the body public too, we can recover our health far faster if it's administered now instead of a far more advanced disease later.

If you talk to the people of Mackenzie, the ones that are left, Mr. Minister of Forests is not spoken of in very high regard. The news of Canfor starting up will very likely not change their opinion of him or vote for someone who can stand up in front of the whole town and spew BS,while the mayor stands there with her happy face.

"The resource-based communities created in that era were not "unsustainable" then, nor are they now, in any "physical" sense of that word."

Most, and close to all resource based communities are unsustainable. It is only a matter of time. The single resouce community is how a community starts. The quicker it grows to increase its economic diversity, the quicker it becomes a more stable and sustainable community. That is a simple fact of life.

If someone opens up a community to take advantage of the resources, then one must make all subsequent efforts to keep that community alive.

Mackenzie is a "new town" built to support extractive industries, so are Tumbler Ridge, Granisle, Barkerville, Kimberly, Trois Rivieres, etc. etc.

Those that were able to diversify on their own, or were helped along in that process, have survived longer than others. Without that help from the original planners, the communities are not sustainable.

In other words, the cost of building such communities without continuing help is the death of the community and uprooted people.

Sort of like having a child and nurturing it through the first 5 years, then abandoning it before it is self sufficient or self sustaining.

BTW, not understanding the true cost of something is one of the critical ailments of the so called economy. As with many things in our lives, there are some who give and some who take. The problem is, when those who take never give back in recognition of what they took to complete a full symbiotic relationship.

Instead, they become and remain leeches that suck a community dry and not allow it to stand on its own two feet.

Well, now that Glen Clarke has been recently appointed to the Canfor board of directors, all those poor, beaten up NDP'ers, who've been stomped on by those dastardly liberals they hate so vehemently, will at least have one of "theirs" on the inside of this very large BC employer.

When Ken Giorgietti, and his unions (oops I meant Glen Clarke and the NDP), was running this province, wasn't it just ducky waiting out all those strikes all over the province to get their union members all more money, so they could buy more stuff, and raise "their" standard of living.

Relax Andyfreeze -- If the NDP and the unions get back to the trough in a week or so, it'll be only a short time before they go on strike and get back all those concessions they gave up anyway.

If NDP wins this election it should adopt some new laws to strengthen the rights of the workers and unions to help them get their rights.

The BC government has introduced 6 levels of beauracracy in front of a worker to sue its employer, while it is two layers in Quebec with lots of legal assistance. A weak or bad union becomes an additional obstacle rather than help.

I also found it ironic that Campbell is boasting of handling crime in streets of our cities, while he has even failed to enforce law and order in the streets of BC institutions where the government pays the employees. Lack of oversight by BC government has weakened the satisfaction levels in BC institutions.

After the debate, it seems that Campbell's government is going down in every BC town.