B.C. Conservatives Detail 5 Point Plan for Forestry

Monday, March 17, 2008 09:13 AM

The head of the B.C. Conservatives, Wilf Hanni, is proposing a 5 point plan to revitalize the forestry sector in B.C.

1. Build waste wood fibre plants on the Island, in the Interior and the in Northern British Columbia that will utilize beetle killed trees in the production of Ethanol and Biodiesel.

2. Encourage the establishment of secondary manufacturing in the Forestry Sector, such as furniture manufacturing and factory built homes for export.

3. Provide secure access to fibre with long term (99 year) leases on crown lands to forest companies that are tied to job creation in the area where the wood is harvested, and which guarantee public access for fishing, hunting, hiking and camping.

4. Promote small, niche market forest companies by providing guaranteed access to small timber lots and recovered timber adjacent to large leases.

4. Actively promote the establishment of new coal mines, precious metals, and an increase in exploration and development in the coastal petroleum industry to create jobs for people who have been displaced in the Forestry Sector.

5. Provide retraining assistance for people who want to leave the Forestry Sector and find jobs in other sectors like mining and petroleum exploration.

Hanni said his plan will go to the heart of the issues of competitiveness, diversification, and job creation.

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Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 09:13 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Harbinger on March 17 2008 11:05 AM

Gee whiz. This woulda been a swell plan 5 years ago or even more. Too little too late. But keep trying. Like I keep saying: Too many rules, too many laws and too many taxes. Plus opposition to whatever needs to be done. Good luck, pal.

Posted by: Harbinger on March 17 2008 11:07 AM

as a PS, It is the same for anyone or any party of any political stripe.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 17 2008 6:53 PM

"small, niche market forest companies"
Actually,we used to have them,lots of them.
The were called independants,handloggers,gypo's,stump loggers,and a lot of other names that were not very nice at times...but hey,they made a living, until the government (coalition and liberals)turned it all over to the big guns and put them out of business.
Bring 'em back!

Posted by: gitterdun on March 17 2008 8:19 PM

Just like the pine beetle.........too little too late.

"small, niche market forest companies"
How many of those small mills and sort yards went broke and never paid the government stumpage and hurt alot of other small businesses and suppliers?

Posted by: socredible on March 17 2008 9:48 PM

Lots of them. But they pale in comparison to the volume of wood literally 'stolen' by the majors, often at the expense of their contractors, as well as the Crown Provincial. And that pales in comparison with the amount of wood wasted by some of those same majors (particualrly on the Coast), which could, and should, be the log supply for a lot of independent logging salvagers and smaller mills geared to the domestic market. But try and get it. They'd sooner burn it, because as soon as it comes out it comes off the AAC. And that means they can't cut a higher profit tree of equivalent volume.

By the way, wasn't Wilf Hanni once (briefly) the leader of the BC Social Credit Party? Or have I got him confused with somebody else? No matter, he'll likely have even less likelihood of political success at the head of the BC Conservatives, though it's always nice to see those who are simply "label-of conveniencers" NOT calling themselves "Social Crediters" any more, especially when they haven't even got a clue about what 'social credit' really is.

Posted by: Robin Hood on March 19 2008 8:51 PM

Good grief. There is absolutely nothing on that list of remedies that has not already been tried, save for the biodiesel plants.

I especially like the promotion of the offshore drilling to save the forest industry.

Is this guy trying NOT to get elected?