it's too bad the morons at city hall don't get it...
the economy of PG is about to implode on itself and yet they're out spending like there is no tommorow....

you can raise taxes all you like but if there ain't anyone to pay them the debt collectors will start to call

"The economy of PG is about to implode on itself"

And yet the mall is still busy, restaurants are full, commercial investment in the city is ongoing, the parking lot at the casino is packed, the bottom hasn't fallen out of the housing market and people are still buying new trucks.

If the town does live and die on forestry, like many claim, then either all of the forestry related workers in town are showing complete disregard in how they are managing their current financial affairs, or perhaps we've under estimated the role that other sectors do play in regards to the overall health of the PG economy. I tend to think it's the latter, but I suspect we won't have to wait much more than 6-8 months to receive confirmation.

The signs of a depressed economy will show in the begginnings of a depressed real estate market. Houses will remain on the market much longer with no sales or greatly reduced prices. This aint vancouver.

Seems no City Halls really get. Town councils have neither the political strength nor moral strength to stand up and confront the large forestry giants or the pathetic examples of regional MLA's that spout party rhetoric as fast and loose as chips from a shredder.

They (councils) are being held hostage by the glimmer of a promise that things are only temporary and that the good times will return. By pushing for a level playing field for smaller producers or mills, they set into action a scenario that the Campbell government has clearly indicated that they do not want. Councils therefore do nothing in a material sense to assist local economies. The repercussions to town councils in going against provincial ideologies will be met with swift and vengeful erosions of Provincial funds that help to get everyone re-elected. What? No overpass for the new sub-division?

Some well meaning journalist should investigate the Daiwasha Mill in Slave Lake Alberta to see the waste that grand promises, a forestry monopoly and non-caring local or provincial politicians can create with a community.

The town council of Fort Nelson was recently asked to support a producer who had his license illegally cancelled several decades ago by the then provincial government. Now would have been a good time to support these types of independents who over the last century have provided jobs in the community without fail. Instead, they hide behind legalese and all the other BS that one hears from politicians when you know the issue is right but they just couldn't be bothered. They do not mind leaving the average small producer to dangle in the breeze and the workers to pick up the needed shortfall of a decent cheque by applying at the local Timmies. You'd think council was asked to dig into their own pockets and make a sacrifice.

That we in BC are not marching in protest over the lack of any credibility in our "I never wanted the forestry portfolio" minister is another sad issue. I suppose I do not expect much from our elected officials if we can't be bothered to hold them accountable to people rather than multi-national corporations. Forestry, whether still the number one economic driver within a community or not, deserves better than what they are getting now.