Clearwater community pressing Forests Minister for decision on Canfor-Interfor tenure transfer

“Everything that’s happening in the North Thompson needs this to move forward. For Adams Lake to continue, for Interfor to continue, for our logging contractors to continue at the rate they are right now.”

However, Forests Minister Doug Donaldson says it’s not a simple ‘yes or no’ answer. As a statutory decision maker, Donaldson says he has met with community leaders, First Nations and workers, however he doesn’t enter into negotiations in this role.

“I want to make sure that people know because we passed legislation, we’re able to ensure that public interest considerations are at the forefront when these tenure transfers happen,” Donaldson explains. “That wasn’t possible before under the previous government.”

Part of the wait has been for the ministry to gather enough information so the minister can review all parts before making a decision.

“We must do our due diligence around the reports that we’re getting from Canfor and Interfor around their discussions they’ve had with communities, with First Nations and with workers. So due diligence is happening with that, and we hope to have a decision soon.”

According to Clearwater’s mayor, Canfor has said it will walk away if a deal cannot be reached by the end of the month.

Thursday morning, Blackwell says he was in contact with Parliamentary Secretary Ravi Kahlon and Deputy Minster John Allan, to discuss what is happening with the transfer.

“They’ve tried to explain to me that they’re working on this, but they’re not getting it out there well,” he says. “The minister’s comments in question period were quite offensive to the people of the North Thompson Valley. It made us feel like pawns, and it made this a political debate between two parties, and we’ve been put through the ringer as it is. This is not fair; it’s disrespectful at this point.”

Blackwell says he was disappointed to hear that the statements given earlier this week by the minister did not have more information for residents.

“I think they’ve heard that we’re not particularly happy with them. And hopefully we don’t have to make that drive (to the legislature), and they will work with us, with the opposition, with the parties involved, and make something happen,” he says. “Or at least give us better information about what is going on. Let’s put it on the table and see if we can all work together to find a solution on this.”

Blackwell says his frustration stems from seeing his community’s economy decline as a result of forest industry struggles. He says if this tenure transfer doesn’t go through, the North Thompson will suffer.

“It would possibly endanger the Adams Lake Mill because I understand that Interfor is at the end of a lot of their North Thompson cutting permits. This could affect everybody from Valemount down to Chase or Kamloops — all of us,” he stresses. “So the minister has to make a ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ on this, or we could end up in a further economic crisis.”

Meantime, Minister Donaldson says he is aware of how dire the economic situation is for residents, and they’ve put out additional contracts for forest rehabilitation work for contractors

“We put out $1 million worth of contracts for that kind of work, and have $2 million more before the end of the fiscal year that contractors can bid on,” he says. “As far as worker supports — we’ve open the worker support office in Clearwater. We’re getting applications for the bridging program for those who want to retire early, and we’re working on training and re-training for those workers that want to transition into other jobs or other mills.”

He adds that staff are working on bringing all factors surrounding the Canfor-Interfor transfer to the table for him to make a decision soon.

by Dylana Kneeshaw

Clearwater community pressing Forests Minister for decision on Canfor-Interfor tenure transfer

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