Ft. St. James Gets Cash for Studies

Thursday, May 22, 2008 03:49 AM

Ft. St. James, B.C. - As some residents and workers in Ft. St. James prepare to head to Vanderhoof to take part in a rally to coincide with the Forest Roundtable session, the Federal government has announced some funding for two studies for Ft. St James.

$130,000 through the Mountain Pine Beetle Program has been approved to help the District of Fort St. James identify new opportunities in both traditional and non-traditional industry sectors. The two studies will identify ways to expand the region's current farm base, new business opportunities and opportunities to work collaboratively with other communities, agencies and First Nation groups.

"Communities such as Fort St. James have been presented with a great challenge as the Mountain Pine Beetle runs its course in the local forests," said Mayor Rob MacDougall. "These two funding opportunities will allow us to identify and propose actions, which we can take to assist in our diversification efforts. A strong, diversified economy is what Fort St. James requires to remain sustainable and thrive in the future."

Meantime, the rally in Vanderhoof is set to be held at 1:30 this afteroon outside the Friendship Centre at 219 E. Victoria in Vanderhoof. That is the site of the Forestry Roundtable session.

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Posted on Thursday, May 22, 2008 03:49 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Andyfreeze on May 22 2008 7:27 AM

Studies,studies,and more studies!
How many studies do we really need before something concrete is actually done?

Posted by: 80shovel on May 22 2008 8:36 AM

Are the cost of these studies taken off the top of these funds first? Do the stats show as " new jobs created in the area" by the folks doing these studies? It would be pretty interesting to just see how much $$$ is really doled out to all these studies.....then how much actually dribbles down to the cause.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on May 22 2008 8:49 AM

A very good point 80shovel, and also my concern.
Seems these so called "studies" just disappear into the ozone and nothing is accomplished!
I sometimes think they are a politicial bandaid to give the appearance of something being done, when in fact,nothing has changed.

Posted by: invisableman on May 22 2008 9:06 AM

More money for the ties.Lets pat ourselfs on the backs again.We have more jobs for the forest sector.Not.We have more work for ties who already have jobs.The buddy system hard at work.

Posted by: Pax on May 22 2008 9:16 AM

If people have solutions, then why are they writing it on messageboards instead of going to the meetings and discussing the solutions with mayor and council, or with the politicians themselves.

No, it isn't an answer to the forest sector job loss. No, it isn't going to put close to 300 people back to work tomorrow. But it is a step in the right direction.

People do a lot of talking. Put your money where your mouth is and work to solve it. I don't know what the answers are, but at least things are happening. It could be worse.

If you have the answers, get on it and get it done. The leaders of our community and of the province are all human, and I am sure that if someone has the answer they would be willing to listen. Anything to help get the town moving.

Posted by: invisableman on May 22 2008 9:20 AM

Just a note the feds gave Ft.St.James 2 million dollars for as I call it Wharf welfare a term the fisherman on the east coast used for building wharfs when they could not fish.Take that 2 million dollars and puntch the numbers.If myself for example at the lower end of the pay scale and a strong believer of not doing overtime.Two people on overtime is one more job/one more homeowner and on.To continue If I took a $10,000 rollback on my wages only,no ties being paid to work the numbers,and no materials or equipment being bought it would employee 40 workers for 1 year. Not bad since there is now close to 500 people out of work in the town.

Posted by: invisableman on May 22 2008 9:31 AM

Pax these are closed meeting among the buddies.If they wanted our in put they would be having the meeting in the fort.Come to the fort and you will see how this town works.A person who has a pair of steel toes boots on gets respect and a tie is looked at as a lazy person looking for a free ride.Vancouver is town of ties who look down on blue collars.As a former tie I had a saying at work.The job may dirty but the money is clean and when I worked in a office the job was clean but the money was dirty. I was a banker.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on May 22 2008 9:52 AM

All valid points invisableman!
And exactly why I think "studies" are a waste of time...and money.
And you are right...many times the people who are lucky enough to conduct these studies, already have jobs.
It's hard to have much faith in a study when you can't pay the mortgage and your family is eating beans and macaroni 7 days a week.
Maybe all this "study" money needs to be put in a fund to help people when the E.I.runs out,because run out it will, and if there are still no jobs,what's next?
Money for re-training is also good,but that doesn't change the fact that once re-trained,people will likely have to move somewhere else to find work,and that is a very difficult thing for people who have spent most of their working life in the same community.
Unfortunately, it is a sad truth.
I guess you do what you gotta do.

Posted by: StuartLake3 on May 22 2008 1:45 PM

Invisableman - I just wanted to make a comment about the round table meeting that is happening in Vanderhoof today. I don't think that most people in Fort realize that the meeting is one to figure out the FUTURE of the REGION. I know that we can't really plan the future without fixing the present, I believe that to be a small part to this meeting. We were on the list of places to have a meeting and that was changed. There is nothing that can be done about that. I do know that the mister is planning on doing another session or round table meetings with communities that were missed.

I know how hard this is for everyone in Fort St James, My dad has been an employee at Pope & Talbot for 37 years. I'm not excited that he's going to look for work.

What will make this change? Stick together! Maybe Mackenzie, on it's own, can't be heard, Vanderhoof, can't be heard, and Fort St. James can't be heard, but if we all get together we will be heard, and listened to! Let's get the power for the North rolling, who says the lower mainland should make decisions for us???

I for one will no longer sit idley by and let the South of this Province decide what is good for the North, as it's us that bring in the majority of the revenue for this Province!!!!!!

Posted by: Andyfreeze on May 22 2008 4:51 PM

Well said StuartLake3!!

Posted by: 80shovel on May 23 2008 9:04 AM

Right on StuartLake3!!!....I feel the very same way!! Gordy n crew got the blinders on....things just hummin down in their neck of the woods. All we been hearing is talk talk talk...and then a big burst of fluff from Gordy n crew. Invisableman hits the nail on the head about the ties. "Pax" I don't think government wants the workin blue collars opinion or solutions...I mean if we were able to figure it out ourselves....who would need them....why would we be payin them?? This pots just startin to heat up...Gordy better keep an eye on it....before it starts to boil!!