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By Adam Berls

forestry forum

Future of Forestry forum well attended

Feb 28, 2023 | 9:22 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — A forum to discuss the future of the forestry industry was held at UNBC’s Canfor Theatre Tuesday night.

By all accounts, the event was well attended, with over 100 people watching from home online, and around 200 in person.

Mayor Simon Yu, Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris, Mayor of Mackenzie Joan Atkinson, Chuck LeBlanc from the PPWC, Ben Parfitt, a policy analyst with the CCPA and others all spoke at the event discussing what the future of forestry looks like in British Columbia, but in particular Northern BC, with recent announcements that PG Pulp will be closing in March, to the sawmill in Houston slated to be shut down as well.

Liam Parfitt from Freya Logging, discussed what impacts the industry has had on wildlife, and ecosystems were trees have been harvested. Parfitt also mentioned that decisions made by both government and industry, have led to the situation we are in right now. Increasing wildfires and exposures to wildfire smoke, can lead to negative health effects.

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Ben Parfitt from the Canadian Centre of Policy Alternatives said that out of all the recent mill closures, the closure in Houston may be the most consequential. At the time when it opened in 2004, the mill in Houston was the world’s largest sawmill.

Speakers also took questions from the in-house and online audience.