Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

Forestry job placement co-ordination offices open, however forestry critic John Rustad says governments done nothing to address the core problem of bringing down costs and helping get the industry back on its feet

The forest industry was in crisis throughout  most of 2019 and will continue to get worse ~~ John Rustad

According to a BC government media release yesterday, displaced (doesn’t that sound so clinical?) forestry workers are now able to access direct, hands-on supports at job placement co-ordination offices five forestry reliant communities in interior and northern BC.

These dedicated offices are in 100 Mile House, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, Mackenzie and Clearwater, and each of the offices is staffed with a co-ordination officer who is a displaced forestry worker. According to the Labour Ministry, these co-ordinators will be able to understand what individuals, who are seeking assistance in finding new jobs or training opportunities, are experiencing.  

I asked BC Liberal Forestry critic John Rustad about his thoughts on this, and he was quick in stating that while he was happy to see this type of help, for struggling forestry workers, he wondered why a press release now?

His question to me was, “Did it really take them a year to respond to the forestry crisis, and take this step?”

Eligible forestry workers will have their needs and goals assessed, before being connected to government programs or services that match them with other jobs, supports or training, according to Harry Bains Labour Ministry. This, apparently, will include education upgrades, special designations, credentials or certifications ranging from trade tickets to driver’s licence classifications.


Forest critic John Rustad
Part of the assessment will also look at other factors, such as a worker’s willingness to move to where similar job vacancies are available, or hobbies and skills such as carpentry or cooking, where with additional help, the worker can participate in different sectors and trades facing labour shortages.

Rustad raised an important point, however, in asking, “Most forestry workers want to stay in forestry. Government has done nothing to address the core problem of bringing down costs and helping to get the industry back on its feet”.

In addition to his comments to me yesterday, Rustad also stated this afternoon that:

“The forest industry was in crisis throughout most of 2019 and it will continue to get worse without immediate government intervention”.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

CLICK HERE for office locations, or to apply to the job matching program online

CLICK HERE to learn more about all the forestry supports available
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The NDP is destroying BC's softwood industry as 100 Mile House mill shuts down and jobs vanish

No more than a few days after the province hosted its much-touted summit to discuss the continuing impact of U.S. softwood tariffs, and with Statistics Canada reporting another decline in BC’s softwood production, the axe has fallen on West Fraser Timber’s 100 Mile House mill. Lorne Doerkson, MLA for Cariboo–Chilcotin , says the devastation now hitting the South Cariboo is what happens when government ignores every warning sign coming from the forest sector. “One hundred and sixty-five people in 100 Mile House just lost their jobs,” said Doerkson. “That’s 165 families wondering how they’ll pay their bills and whether they can stay in their own community. The ripple effect will hit every business on main street, from the gas stations and restaurants to the grocery stores.” “The Minister’s thoughts and prayers aren’t enough for those families facing unimaginable hardship. It’s time this minister did his job and not another photo op,” said Doerkson. “The Minister thinks the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Premier’s Office Acknowledges Richmond Residents Affected by Cowichan Land Claim Face Issues on “Mortgages, Property Sales”

“The Premier’s Office is secretly sending letters to my constituents behind my back. If the NDP were truly committed to transparency and supporting residents, they would have proactively engaged with owners years ago, not rushed out last-minute letters to cover their tracks.” ~~ Steve Kooner, Conservative MLA for Richmond-Queensborough and Opposition Critic for Attorney General Steve Kooner, Conservative MLA for Richmond-Queensborough and Opposition Critic for Attorney General, is criticising Premier David Eby and the NDP provincial government for secretly delivering non-committal, last-minute letters to Richmond residents affected by the Cowichan Tribes land claim. For over six years the NDP misled British Columbians on the implications of indigenous land claims. Premier Eby is now quietly sending staff to conduct damage control following public fallout from his 2019 strategic directive for government lawyers not to argue extinguishment of aboriginal title, even over p...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kamloops woman’s cancer test cancelled due to Interior Health mandates for OB/GYNs (iNFO News)

A Kamloops woman’s cancer screening appointment was considered urgent by her doctors and scheduled within weeks, but it was postponed indefinitely when Interior Health ordered her gynecologist take that day’s on-call shift. Troylana Manson now waits with the mystery of whether she might have cancer amid a staffing crisis for women’s health care specialists in Kamloops. “I was happy to have that appointment in December so we could rule this out, but now it’s thrown in the air again. People in Kamloops, certainly people in positions of power, need to realize what Interior Health is doing”  ... CLICK HERE for the full story
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more