The forecast in a confidential provincial government report of extensive forest sector job loss in the Central Interior is old news to Council of Forest Industries president John Allan, but he expressed disappointment in the way it has been made public.
"My board last year identified future timber supply as the number one issue for the industry," Allan said Thursday. "I mean, there is no secret the annual allowable cuts are going to have to be adjusted downwards in the coming years to account for the impact of the mountain pine beetle."
The report, which was inadvertently posted on the provincial government website for about a half day this week, warned the current 22,890 jobs across the region could fall to just 10,808 within a few years and that Prince George alone could lose more than 6,500 jobs.
The losses are predicated on the economic supply of dead pine running out as soon next fall in Quesnel to about five years from now in Prince George.
It suggested the provincial government should consider harvesting smaller trees and logging areas currently managed for their biodiversity, wildlife and scenic values. And with an election looming in May 2013, it recommendeds a plan to deal with the problem be in place by December.
Allan said COFI knew a report was in the works and expected a public consultation process would start in due course. He expressed concern the document was made public before it was ready.
"Yeah, we're concerned obviously the way this has all turned out," Allan said. "Now it'll become a raging debate in the public and in the media in the absence of any process for the public to get involved. The real focus here is the future of the Interior forest industry, the future of communities, working families and anyone else whose livelihood depends on the forest industry."
He stressed the job losses will occur only "if nothing changes."
