It isn't so much about getting this together, as it is about what happens after the fact.
In theory,it's a good idea, but in reality,it will all depend on how far it goes after it is built.
Beware a very unpopular government trying to get it's self-serving foot back in the door.
Can we trust them?

yes, Andy. But this government is still better than a socialist government.

While I tend to agree with you He spoke,the present government falls into a catagory all it own.
I am not sure what they are...other than dishonest and self-serving.
I like this idea for a Wood Innovation Center,but I would like it a lot better if the Campbell crew were nowhere near it.
Particularly the likes of Colin Hansen!

Unfortunately, it is not the same party it was all those years ago when we first got them in. Somewhere along the line, the leader has lost touch with its subjects.

Thus I would not doubt that he will step down sometime in August. he will take the fall for the HST, and hand it on too ?????

So the City paid for the PG Hotel, 2.5 million, spend a minimum of 200 grand to tear it down and then give it to UNBC. I stand to be corrected.

The Wood Innovation and Design Center is an educational and research institution.

Just because it will become a reality NOW rather than during the 1990s, is there any other valid objection you have against it, Andy?

I expect it to be dedicated to innovation and design, in an apolitical professional manner.

BTW, I am much happier with the government that we have now than I was with the one we had the pleasure to endure for a whole decade.

Boy, some people sure have a short memory!

I don't think Andy is all against the current government. he just figures we could have done it differently.

We all agree that the wood innovation is a good idea, and a better idea for it to be parachutted into downtown Prince George.

I am just curious what the back room deals were for the city to give away 2.5 million dollars of our tax money. Ben, do some digging and post it.

It'll be like UNBC, promised by a failed free enterprise government; left to a socialist government to bring into being.

The act to establish UNBC was enacted during the last session of the "failed" free enterprise government and the initial funding was provided.

The socialist government completed some of it. Somewhat reluctantly.

It wasn't just a *promise*! Check the Hansard records in Victoria. Google it, it will take only a few minutes.

In fact it is Bill VanderZalm who must be given credit.

I'll let Andy speak for himself, he makes good comments.

I have always believed there are in fact, some damn good people in the Liberal party.
Unfortunately for them,Campbell has turned into something that is quite unlike anything were have seen in recent memory.
I was,up until a few years ago,a card carrying Liberal party member.
I cancelled my membership because of Campbell himself.
He has surrounded himself with a click of henchmen who do his bidding without question.
Blind loyalty.
That tells that they are of the same ilk as Campbell himself, and I would trust none of them.
Ever notice Campbell just shuffles the same people through different Ministries, and never let's any "outsiders" from the backbenches in to the supreme inner circle?
That also tells us something.
I also believe that it will be the good people on the backbenches who finally stand up and say enough.
With something as important to the north as the Wood Innovation Center,the less this government is involved the better.
There are plenty of good forest industry people around who are never consulted on anything.
They are the ones who know how to get this done.
In the case of Colin Hansen,if his lips are movinghe is probably lying,or at the very least,telling us what he thinks we want to hear.

I'll take the NDP socialist government any day over the current one. Education, wages & health care should always be number 1 and not business.

mythoughts,

you dont have education, wages & healthcare without business.

You might want to take a few minutes and think about that one.

Education and health care are not a business? Interesting.

Tattoo parlor = business

Fox driver training = not business

Pub = business

Pharmacy = not business

Business pays Education & Healthcare through revenue. So as a government your top priority should be business to generate revenue.. especially during a recession.. Doesnt matter what party you are. You cant have one without the other.As well if your a government you cant just print money to pay for these things or else you will drive your country into a depression.

Thank you for free speach, Thank you Ben and Eleaine for giving us the venue. Glad to see that there are some down to earth people that recognize we need business. otherwise there is going to be a lot of unemployed people.

You don't have business without education an health care and wages ....

no educated workers = picking up garbage in the park is your business, not computer assisted mapping.

no health care = sick people and throw away people after they broke their arm while picking up garbage and slipping and falling.

no wages ... = no eduction and no health

:-) ..... one hand washes the other. They are in a symbiotic relationship.

Actually business can often be the leach sucking up people with education that they did not pay a dime for in this country unlike some of the great business schools in Europe where businesses do their serious part in training.

Want business. Go to China. they have business and they have been taking more and more away from us ......

Socialism isn't a business, eh ... LOL ....

China is a country run by a dictatorial central committee. It's capitalistic communism, or communistic capitalism.

It all boils down to business and profits on a very large scale - when the central planning committee orders the construction of a pipeline, they work starts the next day. Properties are expropriated, whole sections of towns are bulldozed, people are expected to obey for the greater good in exchange for small compensation...

Compare that to how we do a project like that - years of environmental assessments, hearings, objections, obstructions, blockades...at the end of the years it may not get the green light ever.

China is a wealth creating juggernaut. We are being left behind big time.

Still, I like it better here, Andy!

Campbell will soon be gone, either by recall or by retirement. I don't expect him to be in charge when the next election rolls around.

Everyone has high praise for the Wood Innovation Centre. We see such phrases as its going to be **great** the best thing that every happened to Prince George, a wonderful **opportunity** etc; etc; etc;

All the time worn phrases. What the hell is it going to do??

What will the benefits be???

What the hell can we learn about wood that we dont already know???

This building will be filled with Government workers, and students in green sweaters, and ties, wandering around in the hallways, muttering to themselves and otherwise trying to give the impression that they are doing something, and making a contribution. What a laugh.

This whole concept is pure politics. Much like a previous poster mentioned, about the University, a project pushed by a failing Government.

We get universities, twinning of bridges, research centers, 4-lane highways, airport expansions, new hospitals, cancer centers, new senior housing, the best Winter Olympics ever etc - all things we would not have gotten from successful governments?

Three cheers for failing governments!

"What the hell can we learn about wood that we dont already know???"

There is only one way to find out: Do more research. Like they do in many other countries. They must be stupid too!

(Reminds me of the story about the chap in the States who in the 19th century suggested closing the patent office because in his scientific opinion everything that mankind needed to invent had already been invented).

A camel is a horse designed by a committee. I think the Chevrolet Avalanche is too. Seen one? Everything and I mean everything the government touches turns to crap.

"What the hell can we learn about wood that we dont already know???"

I think we can learn the key thing we have not been able to figure out yet. How to get 4 to 5 times the money out of the land base without ruining the great potential we have for tourism.

Bavaria
- land area = 70,550 km2
- population = 12.519 million
- per capita GDP = C$44,509
- forestry + timber sector = C$33.5 BILLION/year
http://www.bavaria.org/forest_market.php

BC
- land area = 944,735 km2
- population = 4.495 million
- per capita GDP = C$41,689
- forestry + timber sector = C$17 BILLION/year
http://www.forest-education.info/forest-facts/index.html

Two geographically similar areas, both with forestry as a/the major industry. BC has over 10 times the land base, yet Baveria can produce over twice the income from forestry that BC can produce.

Places like Bavaria, Austria, Oregon and others have plenty of wood research centres which allow them to increase the value of the extracted raw material before it goes to market.

If we want to do the same, it will not be handed to us on a silver platter. We have to go after it ourselves.

The longer it takes us to get to that Eureka moment, the worse off we will be.