CKPG

By Dione Wearmouth

Forestry

Log drivers protest logging deferrals in Smithers

Nov 17, 2021 | 1:34 PM

SMITHERS – Log drivers will be meeting in Smithers tomorrow (Thursday) morning to advocate against the province’s decision to defer logging activity in 2.6 million acres of Old Growth forest space in across BC.

Last year, an old growth strategic review titled “A New Future for Old Forests” was presented to the province by an old growth strategic review panel. One of the four main recommendations made in the report was to identify and protect more old growth in collaboration with First Nations. This decision to defer this logging activity is a direct response to that recommendation.

Rick Fuerst is a Log Truck Driver who is part of a concerned citizen group that was formed after this announcement. He says this decision will cause disastrous impacts on communities that rely on the forestry sector.

“The BC government is trying to downplay job loss, but this decision puts over 100,000 good paying forest jobs at risk, with the spin offs being at least five times that number. The consequences for smaller towns who have forestry as their main industry could be absolutely devastating,” he explained.

He explained that truck loggers aren’t the only people who will be affected, and forest dependent communities will have many parts of their social and economic viability impacted. Halts on road building and other infrastructure for the upcoming work season have already been made. The long-lasting impacts of this decision aren’t fully understood yet, according to Fuerst, which is causing serious anxiety among forestry workers in Northern BC.

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“Truck loggers are just one cog in a very big machine,” he said. “From doctors to CN workers, from small business owners to government employees. In the case of my Town Of Smithers and Telkwa, totaling less than 10 thousand people in population, the loss of tens of millions of dollars every year the forest industry puts into our local economy from local mills and processing plants would have a devastating effect on every aspect of those jobs and viability of other local businesses and social services.”

The concerned citizens group is now asking the province to shelve this decision until a proper consultation process has been held with all stakeholders involved.

Premier John Horgan says logging deferrals will be a temporary solution, and the province is now asking First Nations to indicate whether or not they support the deferrals within the next few weeks.

“Forests are a part of who we are as British Columbians. We have a responsibility to ensure the benefits are shared, today and with future generations,” Horgan explained. “Following the recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review, we are taking steps to fundamentally transform the way we manage our old-growth forests, lands and resources.”

Three rally’s were originally scheduled across BC, however one of them was cancelled due to the flooding in the Interior.