Airing Concerns About Economic Diversification

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C. - So, the question is, as  Prince George tries to diversify the economy in the shadow of the mountain pine beetle, does it do so at the cost of the environment, at the cost of air quality?   That is the question  the Alternatives and Opportunities, forum looked to answer. 

It was the first of a four part series of discussions about the  future  for Prince George and how that future will be shaped by the major issues facing the community.   The issues being:  air quality,  labour stability, technology and crime.

(at right,  about 20 people  turned out to the Two Rivers Art Gallery to  hear the comments from  three  very different speakers)

Bruce Sutherland, the owner of a successful company which has diversified it's customer base; Councilor Don Zurowski who has  been on the City Council  throughout the beetle epidemic and  air quality issues;   and Dave Fuller, the President of PACHA, the People's Action Committee for Healthy Air.

There is concern any growth or diversification of the city would have an impact on the quality of the air as the airshed in Prince George has already been declared “fragile”.

Bruce Sutherland, the President of Wolftek Industries and Chair of the Northern Trust says  with 40 employees,  his company has diversified .  It started out serving just the forestry industry, but has since grown to service other industries, including mining. Diversification, is the key says Sutherland when it comes to any aspect of economic planning.  Sutherland says the mountain pine beetle crisis has  created a situation  for partnerships and research “See the problem, seek an answer, create a solution”.

Councilor Don Zurowski  was the second panelist  to speak and  noted  air quality is on the Provincial agenda, and on the Federal agenda.  The real problem for Prince George says Zurowski, comes in the Pm2.5 levels.  “Even if there was no industry we live at the confluence of two rivers, with cutbanks and dust, and it is difficult” says Zurowski.  Still, he says  the city is doing what it can to see that new industry is not located in the bowl area.   “We must challenge permit issuers to monitor and enforce the regulations.  We must be more vocal with the regulators”    He also wants to make sure permits are checked regularly and “enforced with major fines and consequences.”

Zurowski says changes have been made but there needs to be more, because air quality is a major factor when people are making a choice about moving here.  “We have to work with the existing permit holders.”  Zurowski says “We are working with major industry who have invested lots of money and were permitted, and now we want to change the rules in the middle of the game.  We have to offer some incentive.”  He says  there  should be tax breaks for those who invest in change, and penalties for  those who don't.

The President of PACHA, (the People’s Action Committee for Healthy Air) Dave Fuller says despite the fact the issue has been on the radar for the City for more than a decade, the air is getting worse.  He says there are too many studies, not enough action.    As for solutions:  Fuller suggests that in Europe, effluent ponds at pulp mills have to be covered, those ponds are the source of much of the sulphur smell.  He says the odour factor this week has been five times the “acceptable” limits. “If that were you or I the City or Regional District would act.”

He says there are other things like a ring road, to reduce  heavy emissions from traffic,  regular reviews of permits and stiffer penalties for polluters “Through collaboration we can make Prince George a better place for all of us.”

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