Macdonald tackles new role as Ministry of Forests critic

Newly elected Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald will be taking on a new role in the NDP caucus when parliament resumes at the end of the summer. Having worked as the NDP’s shadow caucus representative in education and community services during his previous term, Macdonald will be working a high-profile role as the NDP’s forestry critic.

The posting, which was announced early this week, takes on a significant relevance given turmoil in the forest industry throughout the province —particularly after mill shut downs locally.

Noting that changes were being sought in the NDP caucus, Macdonald said forestry was an issue that interests him tremendously.

Given it was an issue he’s already spent a lot of time with —and expected to continue spending time working on— the new role comes somewhat naturally.

However he’s under no illusion about the workload. “There’s a lot to learn, “ Macdonald acknowledged. “The issues are complex and there are a lot of them.”

Backing Macdonald up will be Cowichan Valley MLA Bill Routley, as deputy critic. While Routley is a first-time MLA, Macdonald noted his long history in the forest industry.

“[Forestry] is something critically important to the area and something we’ll have to push the government on,” he emphasized.

Problems collecting government assistance

First on his agenda, Macdonald said is the issue of mill closures and their spin-off effects. Tied into that problem, are ongoing troubles dealing with the federal Employment Insurance (EI) program.

The rural NDP caucus sent a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office addressing concerns that EI “just isn’t working the way it needs to.”

Macdonald pointed to issues regarding the waiting period to get on EI, the amount being paid out and the length of time a worker is eligible to collect.

“There are some real troubles for people getting payment from something they have contributed to for a long time,” he said.

At the provincial level, Macdonald said the Community Development Trust program will be receiving scrutiny to ensure it’s meeting its mandate, which is to provide support for forest workers during difficult economic times.

“Ultimately people want jobs though…and there will be a strong push for making sure that the land that we have, creates jobs,” he said.

A time to re-invest

During the recent provincial election, Macdonald chastised the Liberal government for their lack of a plan to solve the woes of the forest industry. While short on specifics, he suggested the current industry downturn provides an opportunity to closely examine the current operations and how to actually re-invent the industry. He pointed to the provincial round table discussions that were held on the topic of forestry and noted the recommendations produced have essentially been ignored.

“Now would be an opportunity to make the investments that are needed on our public land. We haven’t done the work on forest health that we need to do. Our Silva culture programs are being reduced and there are more cuts to the ministry of forests and the other ‘dirt ministries’ and really, now would be a time to invest,” Macdonald stressed.

U.S. subsidies affect local pulp mill

A third issue Macdonald, now a second-term MLA, pointed out during an interview on Monday, was a situation that sees U.S. pulp mills receive significant subsidies for using biomass to help fuel their operations. South of the border, companies receive $0.16 per liter ($0.50 per gallon) of the substance, known as Black Liquor. That government support puts B.C. pulp mills, like Tembec’s Skookumchuck mill, at a disadvantage, according to Macdonald.

While the federal government did announce on Wednesday (June 6) that it would be investing $1 billion to meet the same levels of support that American mills receive, some still say it wont be enough.

“It won’t save any mills or prevent further job loss,” said Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union president Dave Coles, in a CBC interview. He advised that the money cannot be used to lower the cost of making pulp, which he suggested is necessary to compete with the U.S. mills that are using the U.S. black liquor subsidy to cut their costs and sell more pulp.

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