Jobs program pays to burn Spilly pine

Province supports resource workers in Golden.

Ministry of Community and Rural Development.

Workers in the Golden area are benefiting from close to $350,000 through a Job Opportunities Program project that will identify and remove trees infested with the mountain pine beetle, announced Pat Bell, Minister of Forests and Range and Bill Bennett, Minister of Community and Rural Development. [Read more]

‘Broken promises’ to First Nations could attract Olympic spotlight

First Nations threaten to tell all to the world if the BC Government refuses to make good its promises.

Forest-dependent First Nations in British Columbia are disappointed and angry. They have waited too long for the BC Government to make good on the promises of the March 2009 Roundtable recommendations to reform tenure for First Nations and replace the inadequate revenue sharing system. While the government is on a $3-billion Olympic spending spree to impress the world … “ our communities are tired of being told there is no new funding available – and that they might have to make do with even less than they already have – while at the same time being told they should be excited about the 2010 Winter Olympics”, said First Nations Forestry Council (FNFC) President, Leonard Thomas. [Read more]

Ktunaxa get 25-year community forest tenure

Long-term community forest supports Ktunaxa success.

Ministry of Forests and Range.

A 25-year community forest agreement issued to the Ktunaxa Nation replaces a five-year pilot agreement and supports continued success in job creation, local manufacturing and silviculture treatments, announced Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett on behalf of Minister of Forests and Range Pat Bell.

“The Ktunaxa have shown leadership by expanding services and building relationships with local mills and companies, and the new 25-year agreement supports continued growth,” said Bell. “The community forest has led to training and expertise in silviculture, forest health, planning and operations, and showcases how these tenures support sustainable economic development and community growth.” [Read more]

Softwood for China — Shanghai code opens doors

Shanghai code approval opens up market to Canadian wood.

Ministry of Forests and Range.

Shanghai’s approval of a new wood-frame building code is a major step forward in the growing demand for Canadian wood products in China, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, and British Columbia’s Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced today. [Read more]

1800-year-old Kootenay cedars to be logged

NDP MLAs ‘overwhelmed’ by ancient forest of the Upper Incomappleux Valley — call for protection.

by Valhalla Wilderness Society.

Two NDP MLAs, Michael Sather and Guy Gentner, are calling upon the provincial government to take the initiative to protect BC’s rarest inland temperate rainforests. They are making the call after a tour of the Incomappleux River valley in southeastern BC hosted by the Valhalla Wilderness Society (VWS) on Friday, October 16. [Read more]

Government 'out of touch' with forestry workers

Claim that HST will save the forest industry is too little, too late: Macdonald.

Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett’s claim that the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) will save the forest industry and protect forestry jobs is a sad commentary on just how far out of touch the Campbell Liberals are, says Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.

“Clearly, if the HST was such a good idea, and would revitalize industries like forestry, then Bill Bennett and his caucus mates would have been talking about the benefits before the election,” said Macdonald. “But they weren’t talking about how great HST was then.” [Read more]

Forest workers to 'practice their skills' on Fort Steele

B.C. supports 40 workers with $1.8M to improve heritage.

Some 40 laid-off resource workers will develop new skills while restoring historic sites at Cottonwood House, Quesnel Forks, Hat Creek Ranch and Fort Steele, thanks to $1.875 million from the Community Development Trust Job Opportunities and Tuition Assistance Programs, announced Bill Bennett, Minister for Community and Rural Development and Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts.

“Four groups of 10 workers each will practice their skills on some of British Columbia’s most popular historical towns and at the end of their work, some will receive heritage building conservation certificates that qualify them for future work in heritage restoration,” said Bennett. “Whether it’s assembling log buildings at the Cottonwood House Historic Site, or repairing heritage equipment at Fort Steele, these projects will not only use the skills of laid-off resource workers, but ensure we can maintain those historic sites in the future.” [Read more]

Rate of human-caused fires decreases

Press release –

CASTLEGAR – The Southeast Fire Centre thanks the public for heeding calls to reduce the number of human-caused fires.

Since July 3, when campers were warned that irresponsible fire use could result in a complete ban on campfires, crews in the Southeast have responded to only five human-caused wildfires. Fire Wardens found 21 abandoned campfires the weekend of July 4 and 5, but that number decreased significantly last weekend, with only five abandoned fires discovered.

Despite the recent decrease in preventable fire-starts, the number of human-caused fires remains unusually high. Crews have responded to 62 such fires this year, compared to an average of 45 preventable fires in previous years. [Read more]

Transition assistance for forest workers

Press release –

Trust opens $20M transition opportunity for workers.

VICTORIA – A program designed to financially assist older workers in transitioning out of the forest sector will be accepting applications July 1 to Aug. 31, 2009.

Through the Community Development Trust’s Transition Assistance program, forest workers aged 60 and older as of Dec. 31, 2009 who meet the program eligibility requirements may be able to access up to $35,000 to transition to retirement or other activities. [Read more]

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. [Read more]