Criticizing the B.C. Liberal government for bringing in sweeping forestry reforms, NDP leadership candidate Harry Lali said Friday he would roll back some of those changes.
"Policy is being dictated by the corporations -- whatever the corporations want, they got for the last 10 years, and that's unfortunate," said Lali during a campaign stop in Prince George.
Lali is not considered a front-runner in the NDP leadership which will be decided April 17.
But the scrappy rural MLA from Merritt in B.C.'s southern Interior said he will fight for the interests of rural B.C., also pushing the other NDP and Liberal candidates not to ignore rural B.C.
"You don't ignore and abandon rural B.C.," he said, accusing the Liberals of doing just that and pointing to mill closures throughout the province.
"When rural B.C. does well, so does the rest of B.C.," said Lali, arguing that 70 per cent of the wealth in the province is generated outside the Lower Mainland and Victoria areas.
Lali said he's in favour of re-instating a job protection commissioner, a sawmill-closure review process that involves communities and workers, and timber rights reforms.
The B.C. Liberals introduced sweeping forestry reforms in 2002, they said were aimed at introducing more market forces to the industry. The changes included removing government oversight on timber rights sales and mergers, as well as loosening up regulations that tied timber to particular mills.
Following the sweeping changes, there was a flurry of consolidations that left just three major forest companies holding the vast majority of timber rights and responsibilities in B.C.'s Interior and the North. They were Canfor, West Fraser and Tolko.
However, the Liberals also clawed back timber rights from the major companies, the first B.C. government to do so, a move meant to open up access to smaller, diverse players. The timber was added to a pool put up for open bid, as well as redistributed to First Nations and communities.
The Liberals have noted that recent sawmill closures are linked to the U.S. housing collapse, which they have helped offset with a new market in China.
Lali also called for a better timber inventory, an inventory of lands considered not sufficiently stocked with trees, and an aggressive step-up in silviculture.
Lali would repeal the HST, bringing in a replacement tax in consultation with the public.
Lali, a former transportation minister in the late 90s, has been elected three times, sitting out a term during the Liberal near-sweep in 2001.
Other candidates include NDP MLAs Mike Farnworth, John Horgan, Adrian Dix and Nicholas Simons. Pot activist Dana Larsen is also in the race.
The NDP leadership contest became necessary after leader Carole James stepped down in the face of a revolt from one third of her caucus, including Lali.
The NDP leadership candidates will be in Prince George for an evening public debate on April 4 at the Coast Inn of the North.
