Prince George, B.C. -  “There is a disparity between the north and south  part of the province,  forestry  pays about $2 billion in taxes to the provincial government, but there is nothing for the North”  those are not the words of  a displaced worker from Prince George talking about the difference between  the North and Victoria.  They are the words of Al Simard, the President of Saving The Region of Ontario North Group “STRONG” and he is talking about the situation in Ontario. 

There were about 75 people on hand at the College of New Caledonia to  hear Simard and other speakers talk about how communities can  work together to  weather the storm  of the downturn in the economy.

Twenty eight hundred forestry workers have lost their jobs in the central interior and northern regions of B.C. since the downward slide in the forestry industry started.  

Al Simard says the concerns and situations in Ontario are similar.

STRONG was initially formed to save the community of Opasatika.  The most profitable sawmill owned by Tembec, the Excel sawmill, was being closed.  It was then learned Tembec had purchased the mill six months earlier, so it could obtain the cutting rights, shut down the mill and ship the logs to Hearst. Opasatika was devastated.

STRONG, says Simard, believes provincial policies have to start supporting community sustainability rather than the “profit interests of multi-national corporations and their shareholders.”

“The people who should be making the decisions for the people in the north, are northerners” says Simard, “instead, the decisions are being made in Queens Park in Toronto.”

While Simard was talking about the Ontario situation, that sentiment was echoed by Peter Ewart of the Stand up for the North Committee.  Ewart says there needs to be a “made in the north of B.C. solution” for the downturn in the economy.  “We need reinvestment by the big companies, and by big government, and we need that revenue to stay in the region.”   Ewart says the key to economic diversity is infrastructure, so his big question is who will get the infrastructure?  “Will it be more in the lower mainland?  Will it continue to focus on the Olympics?”

Ewart urged all to let their voices be heard, that with the electoral disparity in the province, the rural parts of B.C. do not have any power “Our representation is skewed regionally, when it comes to power, we are disempowered.” Ewart says speaking out  can work if  the Central Interior and the North speak as one voice “I think about when the  Electoral Boundaries Commission called for the loss of a northern riding, and  the people spoke out loud and clear and they had to back off.  I think also of the Health Rally in Prince George, where 7,000 people came together to say we wanted change, and it happened.”

If the purpose is to sustain communities and grow beyond the forest industry, there has to be a plan:

John Brink, the President of Brink Forest Products says access to fiber has to change.  That 80-90% of the renewable timber licenses in the central interior are controlled by three companies, West Fraser, Tolko and Canfor.   Brink says he wants companies to compete for timber licenses, “That is the only way you will attract new investment for capital.”  Brink says access to fiber means there could also be a furniture manufacturing plant here, “Anyone who says we cannot, I challenge them to explain why not.”

He says it is policy that will have to change and it has to start in the City. Brink says this November, candidates for the municipal election must show they have the leadership.  What about the MLA’s? Brink says either the MLA’s don’t have the vision, or they are afraid to speak up. “Either way, think about the May 15^th election of 2009, ask the questions.” 

Simard says the louder the voice the more likely communities are to bring about change, he urged rallies and plenty of media coverage.   Northern Ontario communities gathered in Timmins last November for an economic summit, “The consensus from the meeting was that the only way the forest and resource dependant communities are going to survive and prosper is if we all come together with one voice.” 

Peter Ewart says its simple, “The phrase, all for one and one for all, really can work in this region.”

Tonight, Al Simard and the Stand Up for the North Committee will hold a similar meeting in Mackenzie.  That meeting is set to take place at the Alexander Mackenzie Hotel at 7:00.

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