As was reported in the Sunflower on June 28, representatives of Interfor, Adams Lake Division spoke to Council and those in the gallery at Council’s meeting of June 25, 2019. Interfor has applied to purchase timber rights from Canfor as a result of the closure of Canfor’s Vavenby mill. Some new rules recently implemented by the Province of BC require that transfers of tenure ownership must now be subjected to a ‘public interest test’ as determined by the Forest Minister. The Interfor representatives outlined the benefits of additional log supply for the Adams Lake mill, and all those people and businesses connected to it. Village Council then voted in support of a motion of community support for the transfer of the timber rights. The Adams Lake Lumber mill is within the boundary of the Village of Chase, and consequently pays annual property taxes to the Village. The rate for this tax is set by the Taxation (Rural Tax Area) Act which is an enactment of the Provincial government. In addition to paying annual taxes, the Adams Lake Lumber Mill employs a number of Chase residents who also pay taxes, and support the local economy by patronizing local business. Some employees also have children enrolled in the local schools.

VICTORIA, B.C. – The B.C. Liberals have outlined what they would do to support B.C. struggling forestry sector. On June 13, the Liberals sent a letter to Premier John Horgan that outlined suggestions from the Liberal Rural Caucus to immediately support communities affected by the recent downturn in the forestry sector. The four immediate actions include a program to match employment opportunities with displaced employees and increasing social services, including mental health for workers in each community. The Liberals also say a forest fire fuel mitigation program could employee workers immediately, and the Provincial Government must ask for Federal programs that support retirement bridging and work-sharing.

Residents of Port Alberni, B.C., have seen hard times before. The forestry industry has been a significant employer in the Vancouver Island community for decades and the city has experienced a lot of booms and busts over the years. But as forestry workers enter a third week of strike action against Western Forest Products (WFP) and the sawmills sit silent, the town’s mayor is growing increasingly concerned about the impact on the local economy.  “We’ve been a one-industry town for a long time,” Mayor Sharie Minions told On The Island host Gregor Craigie. “Most families kind of plan to be able to survive maybe a few weeks off work but when it gets into that longer term … we’re really going to feel the impacts.” …Roughly 200 families that rely on a WFP paycheque live in Port Alberni.

OUJÉ-BOUGOUMOU, QC,  – Canada’s forest sector continues to be an important generator of good jobs in communities across the country, including rural, remote and Indigenous communities in Quebec. The Government of Canada is working with Indigenous peoples to ensure that they not only participate in sustainable forestry projects but also benefit from initiatives created by their community, for their community. The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today announced a $2.7-million investment to Oujé-Bougoumou Cree Nation for a sustainable forestry project that will create jobs, boost the local economy and displace diesel use in the remote community. The funding will be used to upgrade and expand an existing biomass district heating system — a cost-effective, renewable-energy fuelled system — for the community, while also providing a market for local sawmill waste.

Glen Small

Canfor bought the right to harvest timber in this area from Slocan Forest Products, Canfor only bought the right to harvest; they do not own the trees. If Canfor closes down their mill at Vavenby then they lose the rights to the timber. The timber belongs to the people of the valley, not to any forest company. The reason that a lot of us are even here is because of the vast quantity of timber in this valley. The timber is the backbone of our employment opportunities right here, we should not allow Canfor to sell it off for huge profits to be manufactured somewhere else. Canfor should have realized that buying out a large mill operation already established in any community automatically takes on the responsibility expressed by the previous owner.