Banning log exports is the only answer

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Ken Barker
Times Colonist

Monday, March 31, 2003
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As our government moves ahead with forest reform legislation one has to wonder what the final outcome will be. As a forest worker who has a vested interest, I certainly don't feel all warm and fuzzy. Deleting sections of the forest act which were designed to protect forest sector jobs and laying the ground work for escalating log exports is not in the public's best interests, any more than the forest minister's approval of the Skeena log export order, which allows for the shipping out of up to 1.2 million cubic metres of logs.

That order in council, signed last February, prompted a legal challenge from environmental groups and trade unionists which is now before the courts.
The increase in log exports will come about as there are no longer going to be processing obligations in the forest act. If a company decides that a mill is no longer viable or does not fit its corporate plan, it can close the mill with no loss of cutting rights.

Once these logs pass a surplus test, they become exportable. This may be more profitable for the forest companies, but does nothing to ensure employment.
It is this government's primary responsibility to ensure that the forest resources are fully used for the benefit of all British Columbians. When will this government come to realize that a complete ban on the export of raw logs is in the only real concrete solution to our future security in forestry?
Ken Barker,
Nanaimo

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