BC government 'very concerned and troubled' by the impact of the mill closures, minister says
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- čas přidán 21. 05. 2024
- BC’s Minister of Forests says he was surprised by Canfor’s recent decision to curtail operations in three communities in Northern BC.
Earlier this month, the forestry company said it was closing a sawmill in Bear Lake, shutting down a production line at the Northwood Pulp Mill in Prince George and suspending a future investment in Houston.
At the time, the company said there wasn’t enough fibre for the Northwood Pulp Mill in Prince George but it also blamed policy and regulation changes that they claimed was the cause of a decline in harvest levels.
However, Bruce Ralston, minister of forests, told NowMedia in an exclusive interview that was not the case.
Ralston said he met with Canfor’s CEO and board of directors to discuss securing fibre for the Northwood Pulp Mill.
“What they wanted (were) some very strong assurances, which we gave them,” Ralston said.
”You can't guarantee something 100%, but I would say it was 99% guaranteed fibre for the long term for that mill. So, for them to say now that there was no fibre availability, that is not the message they accepted, that's not the message that they received and that’s not the message they acted upon when they went forward with the decision to reinvest.”
Ralston said he was surprised about the Northwood closure but said the Polar mill in Bear Lake had been “down” for about six months before the closure was announced.
The minister said he and the NDP government were “very concerned and troubled” by the impact the mill closures will have on those small northern communities.
NowMedia asked if there was an opportunity to reopen discussion to reverse the closures.
Ralston said those discussions could be had and reversals could be made but it would come down to Canfor.
“I think it's unlikely that those decisions would be reversed immediately,” he said.
“As I said, the fibre supply assurance that they wanted for the long term is one that they got and it still continues. We haven't pulled the rug away from that. It's still there. And so they could revisit that if they chose to.”
“It's a big decision and it's a decision that has a real impact,” he said.
However, he said the BC government has transitional programs in place.
On Friday, in a separate statement to NowMedia, Ralston said there were community rapid response teams in place to help people navigate skills training, short-term employment opportunities, employment assistance, retirement transition and more.
Full story on KelownaNow.com
www.kelownanow.com/watercoole... - Zábava
You mean the arson season has started...again..
Which one of you is going to ask the minister why the annual cut of timber in British Columbia is only using 42% of the allowable cut.
Why is he restricting the other 58%.
Access is a issue
Assurances mean absolutely nothing if they do not amount to timber to fiber the mill. This means approved cutting permits and nothing less. Clearly, the assurances are not being followed through upon and hence the curtailments.
Bigger issues
I would
Forest clean up like we use to do
Correct
General is available
Not concerned enough to stop screwing the province over with stupid policy though. Hope this is is your last year in power.
10 n rising..gitting ads...whopwhop
Get him out of the way
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Clear the forest from ground is the best
Heat sensing technology has been available for 50 years. Why are these hold over or so called zombie fires not being detected and extinguished earlier? It is refreshing that communities are being proactive and coordinating to fight fires and protect their communities. Waiting for the BC Wildfire Service to show up a couple days to late to fight a fire has resulted in to many homes and communities burning down and the surrounding landscape being scorched and severely altered for decades. If you live in a remote community and have the equipment and skills necessary to suppress and contain a wildfire, start fighting and containing the fire, then call the BC Wildfire Service. Dont call the BC Wildfire Service and expect them to arrive in time to contain a fire near your home or community. Their track record indicates you will be disappointed in their response time.
Your issue is not west coast
share
Arson has been where they did but waterbombers work
Im a retired general would you like like serious.help..
Ill take his job
Bs
But you have done what... nothing... ndp needs to leave
LOLOLOLOLOLOL...Government and Concerned in the same sentence....Now thats a laugh. You guys could care less.because your behind it all
blah blah blah.. must have been a used car salesman
Stop the silly.. you should habe done your job
Im a genetal at 40 and you alre 70.
Retire you are not doing it.. climate needs engineers to help... not a politician