Pat Bell Says No Concessions for Canfor

Tuesday, July 03, 2007 04:00 AM

Agriculture Minister Pat Bell says the Province will not give Canfor any concessions. "We will not change the rules for any company operating in this province." Bell was responding to a question about whether the province had been approached for concessions to keep the Mackenzie Mill open.

Bell says there have been discussions on another front "We have talked to them about ramping up the timber supply in the Mackenzie Forest District from 700,000 cubic meters to 1 million meters."

That would enable every company operating in that region to bid on the wood earlier. Bell says Canfor is not the only copmpany interested in the Mackenzie area "Dunkley likes the Mackenzie area, so does Winton Global along with Abitibi who will all have the same opportunity to bid the increased supply earlier in the year."

"Concessions to any company in BC, is not on the table." Bell was responding to a letter written by CANFOR to its suppliers asking them to take a 15% roll back in what they charge the company. (see previous story "Canfor Seeks Concessions from Suppliers")

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Posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2007 04:00 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Gofaster on July 3 2007 7:40 AM

Tough talk there Pat, but we all know your just parrot what Campbell has to say ...so tought talk Campbell!

Posted by: metalman on July 3 2007 8:10 AM

Toe the party line.
That is the route to a platinum plated m.l.a. pension, one that pays far more, for far less time served, than any honest working stiff could even dream of.
Mind you, I would not want his job, even with that pension and the phatt pay raise they gave themselves (oops I mean the independent review panel recommended, you know the one 'Gordo's salary review and pension advisors inc') the work of the politician is largely unrecognized by the masses, and it takes a special breed, in my opinion, to take on the job, knowing as they must, that they will become unpopular with many people. I must grudgingly admit that they do some good once in a while, but only if there are cameras around.
metalman.

Posted by: owl on July 3 2007 9:49 AM

"We have talked to them about ramping up the timber supply in the Mackenzie Forest District from 700,000 cubic meters to 1 million meters."

I thought we had an oversupply of product.

Is the beetle wood infested area now no longer being cut for usable product? If so, then it is time to move into those areas with less or no pine stands which some companies have been protecting, other than BCTS who will grab anything anywhere anytime, good stewardship from a sustainable work force be dammed.

Posted by: owl on July 3 2007 9:54 AM

BTW, are the politicians the new foresters now? I always thought that the forests were to be managed in such a fashion that the the multiple benefits would be sustainable.

I must be living in a dream world. How could I be so stupid as to think that anyone is thinking of those who follow. Let them take care of themselves.

After all, we are northerners and according to some people on here we know how to take care of ourselves because those living in the south know squat about northern issues.

;-)

Posted by: Andyfreeze on July 3 2007 9:32 PM

No concessions comes as no suprise.
If the government gave even one concession to Canfor,they would then have to give some to all the other forest companies.
And that is NOT going to happen!
Pat Bell's involvement is nothing more than a token attempt to try and make it look like the government really gives a damn.
If they actually did,they would have sent in the big guns instead of a puppet!
And owl makes a very good point.
Politicians are NOT Foresters and should not get involved in something they only know about from an inter-office memo!

Posted by: Andyfreeze on July 3 2007 9:37 PM

...and now that I think about it,where the hell IS Gordon Campbell lately?
Whistler perhaps?

Posted by: Gofaster on July 3 2007 10:47 PM

With his huge raise I am sure Campbell can afford a bigger bottle now...
But where ever he is hmayb he will stay there...
ok wishful thinking on my behalf...