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Liberals cutting forestry rules |
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Written by GORDON HOEKSTRA
Citizen staff
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Tuesday, 20 May 2008 |
The B.C. forests ministry said Tuesday it will take action on 28 items to cut red tape to help the forest industry, which is reeling under an unprecedented downturn in lumber and panel markets as a result of a collapse in the U.S. housing sector.
The action is being taken as part of a 90-day forestry regulatory review. The province has also set up a roundtable, led by Forests Minister Rich Coleman, which is examining longer-term solutions to help the B.C. forest sector survive.
"Government has made substantive changes to forest regulation and policy since 2001 to increase competitiveness in the forest sector," said Coleman. "We will continue to look for ways to help our forest industry, both short-term and long-term."
As part of the regulatory review, the province said it received more than 540 submissions from the forest industry.
The forests ministry said its first priority will be to take actions as soon as possible that do not require legislative changes or further consultation.
Among the actions that will be implemented immediately are:
- Reducing the target time it takes to review and issue timber cutting and road permits to 40 days, 85 per cent of the time, from 45 days, 70 per cent of the time.
- Ensuring all forest districts can accept and approve digital only files of plans and permits.
- Allowing forest companies owing annual rents to make equal monthly payments to help with cash flow.
- Eliminating any unnecessary information requests in "as-built" road submissions, which will save industry time and reduce record-keeping.
- Issuing a single salvage permit for an entire woodlot to save time and effort with permit applications.
- Implementing a risk-based approach to timber appraisals to streamline the process of setting timber pricing rates. (A full list is available at www.gov.bc.ca/for).
The province said it will also consult with the forest industry in the next 30 days about additional action that can be taken to assist the industry.
As well, the province will be considering changes to First Nations timber harvesting rights, and preparing legislative changes for longer-term proposals.
NDP forestry critic Bob Simpson said it is fair enough that the province is taking action on some items, but he's concerned that it's being done at a risk of further reducing oversight to get minor costs out.
He noted the actions don't address the carbon tax or concerns over bioenergy policies that could provide more competition for wood waste residues fueling pulp mills. The actions also don't deal with tenure or timber pricing, two key issues, he said.
"They're moving the deck chairs around on the Titanic, but not steering the ship away from the iceberg," said Simpson.
He said he believes the roundtable and the regulatory review is an excuse on the government's part not to act.
Forest companies and forest-based communities have been hammered by an array of negative market forces.
Lumber and panel prices have dropped, the Canadian dollar has risen compared to the U.S. currency and lumber producers are paying a 15-per-cent export tax on shipments to the U.S.
Companies -- including Canfor, West Fraser, the Sinclar Group, AbitibiBowater and Hampton Affiliates -- have reacted by shutting down mills, cutting shifts and moving to reduce work weeks.
Pope & Talbot is in receivership, which has closed a sawmill and a pulp mill in northern B.C.
A running tally by The Citizen puts the number of jobs lost in northern B.C. at more than 3,500.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 20 May 2008 )
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Also initiate lumber sales to China ( that will really tick off the U.S.of A.)
AMERICA IS KILLING OUR SOFTWOOD LUMBER TRADE
and our politicians are selling us down the road for there own personal gain.