Andru McCracken

If there were only 9 or 10 people at the annual general meeting of McBride’s community forest, it might have been due to a newly elected board and a new manager. But it would have been nice if more people had been there in person to learn about the challenges facing the community. Gene Runtz, the new community forest manager, is a plain talker. What he said about the community forest’s ability to provide cedar to local mills sent a chill down my spine. I can’t imagine what mill owners are thinking. Runtz estimated the amount of cedar that they could produce would keep a half a shift running at each of the local cedar mills, unless the Ministry of Forests allows them an exemption. Even with an exemption for low grade cedar from government, the road is tough. Runtz has a plan to get more tenure and ship low grade cedar from what he calls Prince George east.