Ministry of Forests Examining Budget Options

Friday, March 05, 2010 09:10 AM

Prince George, B.C.- Minister of Forests and Range Pat Bell is hoping the cuts to his budget will result in no more than 20 jobs being lost within the Prince George operations of his Ministry.

Speaking on the Meisner program this morning on CFIS FM, Bell says he is hoping to make the majority of cuts out of the offices in Victoria. He is not able to say exactly how many jobs may be lost as the first step has the Ministry looking at voluntary measures by employees such as retirement, job sharing or reduced work weeks. If that fails to meet the budget trimming, the next step will see Bell looking for cuts from within the office in Victoria.

Bell’s overall budget has been cut by about 5%, and he says worst case scenario would see 20 jobs being lost in Prince George.

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Posted on Friday, March 05, 2010 09:10 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 5 2010 9:25 AM

Well, everyone can relax now!
It is all going to get sorted out just fine.
I mean,how could it not with Pat Bell in charge?
This should make people in danger of losing their jobs feel MUCH better!
I am sure he will speak stearnly to Gordo and DEMAND that he save people's jobs...right?

Posted by: Denaljo on March 5 2010 9:46 AM

Just as long as they do not cut into Pats big pay raises to himself or his bloated pension when he retires from the pork barrel.

Posted by: dan on March 5 2010 10:18 AM

This seems to be quite the difference from the number of jobs to be cut (160) that was given only a few days ago...

His worst case scenario of 20 jobs lost doesn't seem to align at all with the numbers released in the budget.

Posted by: frankgeorgeson on March 5 2010 10:45 AM

Cuts to the ministry - but a lot of new infrastucture money is going to upgrading forest roads.

There is a whole bunch of silviculture work to be done - espesically around the bettle kill rotting at the stump and becoming pickup sticks.

Not a time for cuts to forestry. silviculture should be leading in BC economic recovery by rebuilding the forest for the future.

Frank

Posted by: Harbinger on March 5 2010 11:13 AM

We need to spend millions more dollars on research and development in order to cut down trees better.

Posted by: gus on March 5 2010 11:45 AM

I hear there is a $375,000 study to see whether the stump height of trees is better at the 24 inch or 32 inch level ......

Posted by: frankgeorgeson on March 5 2010 12:44 PM

I missed the raises!

Lets see 4 year contract -- 0%-0%-2%-2%

Subrtract an intrest free loan program (aka - investment -profit sharing on return on capital)- (aka the smoke and mirrors program)

That is minus 3% from holiday pay (backdated to July 1, 2009)and the loss of two stat holidays - Mind you it all goes into an intrest free fund to be repaid if and when CANFOR returns to a return on capital position.

Where is my return on investment? Oh yes I am sucuring my plant form closure by making capital available for investment!!!! Where is my return on capital - even the banks aare payin 0.25%.

Then there is an additional 30 cents and hour off for the disability plan.

I missed the raise part. If the world glows and the price of lumber climbs and if .. if ... there is a profit sharing plan down the road - maybe/perhaps.

The problem with lumber climbing to the rates needed for this to happen is substitution. Aluminium studs - steel studs - plastic studs - laminated wood products. The challenge for the BC wood industry is in trying to have a product someone wants to buy a a competative price.

I know, I know - China is the answer.

Frank

Posted by: MrGee on March 5 2010 2:48 PM

The wording of this posting has been changed from this morning"s original version which stated that "in the worst case scenario" 20 Ministry staff would be laid off, most of whom would come from Victoria. This amended version says that 20 Ministry staff from Prince George Operations would be laid off. Big difference. Were Pat Bell's facts wrong or did you misquote him?