Councilor says Call for Federal Beetle Funding Too Little Too Late

By 250 News

It has been more than a year since Councilor Biran Skakun  presented a motion to his Council colleagues asking for municipal  pressure on the Federal government for funding to help  private property owners  deal with beetle killed trees.  Skakun says he wanted to take advantage of the fact that Stephen Harper had just completed a pre-election sweep of the area and he thought the timing was right to press the Prime Minister of the day, Paul Martin to make the same kind of tour with hopes the P.M. would declare the .

Here is the motion  that was presented to Council on September 15th of 2005:

"RECOMMENDATION:

That Prime Minister Paul Martin be directly invited by Prince George City Council through the mayor’s office to view the pine beetle epidemic in the Prince George area.

That Prince George City Council through the mayor’s office strongly encourage Prime Minister Paul Martin and Premier Gordon Campbell to declare the Pine Beetle epidemic in the Province of British Columbia a natural disaster as defined by the federal government.

DISCUSSION:

With the recent visit of the honorable Steven Harper, leader of the official opposition, to our area to view the mountain pine beetle epidemic I feel it is imperative the we as a city council and community build upon this opportunity for additional national media coverage and invite Prime Minister Paul Martin to view the devastation in person.

The funding announced so far by the federal and provincial governments is very much appreciated but it clearly is not enough to offset the long-term negative impact many communities face when the annual allowable cut is reduced in years to come. Any funding so far has done very little to help residents with tree removal on private property. With motions at the UBCM, NCMA and FCM as a starting point for action, I feel a more direct approach is needed to ensure the long-term economic stability of our community and region."

The motion was defeated 8-1.  Skakun says he was surprised to hear the Mayor had joined ranks with two other communities to press the Federal government for funding.  ""He had an opportunity back then to support doing the right thing (passing the resolution) and did not and that’s unfortunate"

Skakun says  if the Mayor is now trying to turn up the heat, it is too little too late.

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