Forestry stakeholders sound the alarm, secure emergency meeting with province

Kamloops MLA and forest critic Ward Stamer was in favour of the actions outlined, highlighting the need for a quick response from government to save the sinking industry.

“I support the recommendations submitted by COFI. We need to act quickly and swiftly if we are to save our forest industry. Quicker permitting for wildfire salvage and BCTS sales. Any relief from BC government in fees, fuel, taxes,” said Stamer.

“If pulp mills are not operating we take six-to-seven sawmills with us for each pulp mill and vice-versa. We are closely integrated,” added Nemeth. “And chips or wood fibre is about 50-60 per cent of the total cost of making pulp, so it’s the single most input for making pulp.”

Fifteen stakeholders in the B.C. forestry sector came together to sign the letter to Eby, strongly signalling a need for change. The forestry group has secured an emergency meeting with within a week with the government.

“We need readily, timely access to timber. That is our number one issue. And to give you a real poignant example, if you go one province over to Alberta, it takes weeks to get a cutting permit, whereas in British Columbia, it now takes years of red tape and cost,” Nemeth told CFJC Today.

Solutions around permitting and increasing allowable cut, some of the quicker changes the province could enact. Without that change, Nemeth is worried for the future.

“In the last 12 months, we have lost four pulp mills. In the last three years, we have lost seven. There were 17 pulp mills in B.C. three years ago – today there are 10. If we don’t take immediate action, that number will be single digits before this year ends and I believe in five-to-ten years, there will be no industry left,” stated Nemeth.

by Michael Reeve

Forestry stakeholders sound the alarm, secure emergency meeting with province

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