‘British Columbians want to wake up proud, work hard and enjoy the fruits of their labour right here at home’ ~~ BC Conservative party leader Trevor Bolin

Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, yesterday released the following statement in recognition of National Forest Week:

“National Forest Week is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of Canada’s forests. Here in British Columbia, our forests have always been vital to our way of life, providing economic, environmental, recreational and cultural values to our communities”.

“Currently, our forest industry is going through a very challenging transition. This government is committed to helping impacted workers, their families and communities weather these ongoing changes. We recently announced $69 million to support workers affected by mill closures in the Interior forest sector. We are taking action to ensure support systems are in place, and we are going to do everything we can to make sure our forest industry stays competitive as we transition to a new vision for forestry in BC”.

Meantime, BC Conservative Party leader, Trevor Bolin has concerns the Forests Minister and the Premier even understands the gravity of the situation.

“I can appreciate that we are finally seeing the Premier act of this issue (the massive downturn in Forestry)” Bolin stated.

He continued, “What concerns me is that he doesn’t understand that hard working men and woman in British Columbians forest sector do not want earlier basic retirement options, or basic training for other industries that are also continuing to struggle under the NDP government”.

Bolin said this in light of Donaldson’s statement speaking of a bright future ahead for forestry in British Columbia.

“We are working with licensees, First Nations, labour and communities to rebuild and re-invigorate the forest sector, and to develop solutions that maintain good jobs and get more value from BC’s forests”, Forest Minister Donaldson said. 

“Although the future forest industry will look markedly different from what we see today, it will remain a significant part of BC’s economic base and the backbone of many rural communities”.

The Conservative leader seems to have a better handle on what BC’s forestry families are actually looking for however, as he observed:

“They want to wake up in the morning knowing our resource sectors are being championed by the provincial government. They want to go to work know the government they are paying taxes to are busy building new markets and creating advancements in some of the provinces oldest industries. British Columbians want to wake up proud, work hard and enjoy the fruits of their labour right here at home.”

Referring the governments BC Stats report for the week of September 2^nd to 6^th, which showed personal consumer bankruptcies up by nearly 27%, Bolin pointed out that British Columbians are at the breaking point:

“We have seen some of the highest rates of business and personal bankruptcies than ever before. We have lost the confidence of the global market, and our Premier continues to ignore the massive opportunities we have with a Made in BC approach.”

It seems a Made in BC approach would be welcome news to BC businesses as well; that same BC Stats report also showed bankruptcies were up for them by over one hundred and sixty five percent (166.7%).

While the government is encouraging residents of the province to enjoy our forests first-hand during Forestry Week, and the many ways they contribute to our communities, Bolin concluded that instead, forestry communities would rather the government create an approach that ... “supports our resources, and the British Columbians who deserve the opportunities that lay within reach.”