Beetle is Symptom of Bigger Problem

By 250 News

Quesnel NDP MLA Bob Simpson  (shown at left) says if we continue on the path we are on, we will be left with a few mega mills in the north, and log exports off the coast. 

That was part of Simpson’s presentation to the Stand Up For the North Conference which is underway at the College of New Caledonia.

Simpson says we have to think about the current Mountain pine beetle battle in the terms of a game.  The beetle is “the ball” and too many are focusing on the “the ball”.  Simpson   says the real game is going on around “the ball” and the game is called “climate change”.  He wants the two day conference to think beyond the beetle and push for a policy change that will address the future of the forest industry.

Simpson says there are four main points he would like to see the conference develop to pressure the government.

1. Have the province work with the companies involved to see that when the softwood lumber duties are refunded, that those dollars re-invested in B.C.
2. The new 15% tax is “found money” and he says that money should come back to communities for workers for retraining and community support
3. Communities work with the Ministry of Forest to develop a plan  for forestry future
4. Develop a formula to return dollars generated in the forest resource communities to those same communities.

Simpson says the time has come to think beyond dimension lumber, and the Chief Forester for the province needs to have the freedom to develop a plan that looks at all fibre sources and all economic  possibilities.

The conference continues  tomorrow morning at 9:00 at the College of New Caledonia.  Admission is free.

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