Forest Company CEOs Pledge To Help Japan

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 03:54 AM

Prince George, B.C.- The CEOs of Canfor and West Fraser are among the 16 forest industry CEOs to pledge to help Japan with its immediate and long term plans to provide housing for those affected by the massive earthquake and tsunami.

The letter says the companies are “committed to working with our Japanese customers to supply the building materials required to meet their immediate need to provide temporary housing for their citizens. The need is urgent and the signatory companies are prioritizing their supply, production and efforts to assist in meeting this need.”

The letter also says the companies are working with the transportation and shipping industry to get emergency housing materials to Japan as quickly as possible.

“We have begun talks with our provincial and federal governments on actions we can take to assist in the longer term rebuilding process. We will be working with our customers, Japanese industry associations and the Japanese government in the near future to determine the best way we can help with the reconstruction.”

The signatories to the letter include:

Jim Shepard of Canfor, Hank Ketcham of West Fraser, Greg Stewart of Sinclar Industries, and Al Thorlakson of Tolko,

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Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 03:54 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: NoSeverance on March 23 2011 7:28 AM

Bravo! And if you paid the guys that you owe severance to they might donate some of it too.

Posted by: foresight on March 23 2011 9:26 AM

I have wondered for a long time why Canada doesn't provide disaster assistance via Canadian goods rather than sending money.

When Haiti was flatened (and still remains so)why is it that we are not providing our goods ie. building materials,lumber etc so that these people can rebuild?
At that time, half of our mills were shut down and we are glad to pay lots of these mill workers/contractor employees EI and loose our pine forests anyways.

Aside from the obvious short term humanitarian benefits, there is a payback over time as our construction systems should replace theirs.

If there was ever a reason for the world and its aid agencies/financiers to loan money, this is it.

Posted by: NoSeverance on March 23 2011 3:31 PM

We sent our wood to Thailand and even helped them build the houses. The termites loved it!