Nice to see someone looking at the foreclosures end of things for once. That's where the real story is often told.

I think this summer will see a pick up in forestry, but global economic conditions will overtake it going into the fall once the US gets downgraded. Time will tell.

Well said Ben.
There is a big difference between buying the mill in a foreclosure sale and actually running it.
As much as I would like to see the mill up and running,I am very sceptical it will happen anytime soon.
The people of Mackenzie can't eat feel good news.
One tiny blip in the general economics of the forest industry and poof!...back to square one.
Lumber prices have risen, but will they stay there?
I don't think they will, but I hope I am dead wrong about that.
Fingers and toes crossed.

Conifex is not a speculator like the weasel that bought the P&T mill. Conifex is in the business of operating mills. The mill will run. The good fibre supply is north and east. Better times for Mackenzie does not mean better times for PG, Vanderhoof, FSJames or Houston.

If Times are so bad, why are Homes priced so high, 1/4 Mill for a small House, what gives?

A good point Outwest,but in reality the housing market in B.C.scares the hell out of me in a lot of areas.
I see nothing good happening when interest rates begin to rise, and rise they will!

Foreclosures and bankruptcies is usually high at the beginning of the rebound. Probably the last sector to "mprove" or "decline", depending on how you look at it.

Since the 70s people should have realized there is no such thing as secure employment in any trades, industrial sector or blue collar job. With the advent of computers, mechanized workers, equipment designed to produce more using less labour, should have been telling everyone earning good money in those jobs not to spend beyond your means. Those whose houses are in foreclosure now are those who thought thier jobs would last as long as them and went out and bought houses and toys that were well beyond thier means. I know that sounds like generalizing, but the only way your house is worth less today than what you owe on it is because you over spent when purchasing a house.

How do you figure that acopolympics? Our homes in Mackenzie are worth less than the purchase price because most of the employers in town pretty well shut down at the same time, gutting the housing market. I've lost about 40 grand off the purchase price of my house alone.

Most of the foreclosures are from folks who cannot afford to pay TWO mortgages. Many have left town to find better jobs but when you have to pay 2 to 3 times the average cost of a mortgage in Mackenzie to live somewhere else.....it becomes impossible.

Get your facts straight before you 'generalize' again.

Houses in Prince George are way overpriced. The prices are not based on anything substantial, other than people have been paying too much for the serviced lots, and too much for the houses. This situation can not hold, and as the economy in this area gets worse (and it will) house prices will come down.

The whole Northwest West of BC with the exception of the Dawson Creek, Ft St John area, is in a serious slump. There is nothing on the drawing boards that will increase employment in the short term (5/10 Years). We will continue to close schools, and lose jobs. Anyone who is still in a good financial position should take action now to ensure they stay that way into the future.

Disregard mostly what is spewed out by Real Estate Boards, Contractors, and Politicians. They have a vested interest in looking at the world through rose coloured glasses.

Remember that we have just lost the Eurocan Kitimat mill, along with 500 to 1000 jobs *(associated). There were some huge lay offs at Alcan a few years ago. They were supposed to build a new smelter in Kitimat. Has anyone heard what is happening there????

Alcan was bought last year by Rio Tinto, a huge mining conglomerate, who may not have any interest in building a smelter. They may just want to generate electricity. Hopefully we will hear someting positive about Alcan Kitimat in the not to distant future, but somehow I think not. Aluminum prices are apparently in the toilet.

I doubt if lumber prices will ever get back to what they were in 2004/5/6 and therefore the chances of the mills in North Western BC going to three shifts again is pretty slim. In fact I suspect that a few more mills will close down in the next year or two.

The day of the increase in wages of 2/3% per year for Government and Union jobs are numbered. People will have to work for less or not work at all. Competition will ensure that costs will come down.


The gravy train has pulled into the station, and now the hard work (and hard times) begin.

To date there has not been a net gain in Prince George from the Container Terminal in Prince Rupert, the CN Intermodal Terminal in Prince George, and the Airport Runway expansion, nor will there be in the next 5/10 years.

Tighten your seat belts, because we are in for a long haul.

"Houses in Prince George are way overpriced."

Based on whose assessment? They're still selling. Doesn't the market determine what the houses sell for?

As usual palopu, your post is a ray of sunshine. If you predict that the sky will fall long enough, will you eventually be right?