Chamber Roundtable

By Cheryl Jahn

Chamber Roundtable

Chamber Roundtable highlights forestry concerns

Jul 12, 2019 | 4:10 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – A number of representatives with an interest in forestry were at the Chamber of Commerce offices today, meeting with some MLA’s who have been touring communities affected by a downtown in the industry.

There was talk about things like re-training opportunities and support services for displaced forestry workers and opportunities in other sectors, like energy.

“We need to understand what’s happening and where those pinchpoints are so that our advocacy efforts on behalf of our members and also on behalf of tye local economy are intrinsically tied to what the business people are saying,” explains Todd Corrigall, CEO of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce.

The MLA’s have made stops in places like Ashcroft and Clearwater, which has been devastated by mill closures. They say the message there is around the need for some help. Now.

And many noted the absence of any visits by members of the provincial government.

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“When a mill goes down or there’s a curtailment in place, workers need short term assistance. You know, the immediate concern of a worker and their family is ‘How do I make our truck payment? How do we sure we cover off our mortgage payment?’ If you’re a contractor, it’s a pretty signficant investment that you have in equipment. There is no sign of the provincial government at the moment in terms of showing up in communities and ensuring that the right hand left hand are talking,” says Todd Stone, MLA for Kamloops South Thompson. “To say ‘We’re doing our darnedest to provide the financial supports for families.’ To provide the financial supports to families to make those payments in the short term while they figure out how to land on their feet.” There also needs to be planning for a new forest sector, re-training for displaced forestry workers in new sectors, like energy.

Those in attendance also voiced concerns over current policy, like the Chief Foresters plans with the Annual Allowable Cut, and what that could mean.

“It would help the smaller guys like us that, if we have a base of which to work with, we can then buy the incremental wood to run a separate shift,” says Bill Kordyban Jr., Owner of Carrier Lumber. “If we lose our AAC, we’re basically at the point where we’ll have to shut down. We’re a one-mill operation, we’re done. So I think it’s in the interests of the Province to try and facilitate the small- to medium-sized companies.

Prince George is the last stop in the tour, with a BC Liberal Rural Caucus meeting set to take place Monday.