The amount of trees left to cut in area forests will determine if Lakeland Mills rebuilds, a special committee made up of MLAs was told Thursday in Prince George by Sinclar Group president Greg Stewart.
"The conditions to rebuild are favourable, but the outcome of this process plays a large part in that final decision," said Stewart to the seven MLAs touring the province to examine timber supply.
"We believe our currently available fibre supply would sustain a new mill."
There are three variables, however, to making that final decision.
One is the findings of the ongoing insurance company probe into the incident, followed by the findings of the ongoing WorkSafeBC investigation into the incident. Lastly, the provincial government - guided by the recommendations of the timber supply review committee - could take away some or all of the trees Lakeland is allowed to cut for milling operations.
The Lakeland Mills sawmill was destroyed by a fatal explosion and fire on April 23, similar to how the Babine Forest Products sawmill was destroyed in January.
Committee deputy-chair Norm MacDonald, MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke, said the calls for timber supply reform was especially passionate in the Lakes District where Babine was based, and he saw a similar level of concern in Prince George.
"What's been emphasized again and again is the need for caution," MacDonald said. "There is no silver bullet, there is no home run solution. We are looking at incremental changes. The questions and concerns around fibre are real, but all of our recommendations have to be based on what is scientifically sound, sustainable and long-lasting."
The committee also heard from grassroots stakeholders like the Salmon River Farmers Institute and individuals like James Steidle.
"We have to understand that there are other values in the forest. We have to slow down and manage this resource more carefully," Steidle said. "That said, I work with wood every day, I am part of a forest industry. We just have to put more sense into how we do this. I was watching 200-year-old Douglas fir sold for pulp and plywood. As a carpenter and woodworker, that was a real waste."
Mayor Shari Green attended the meeting and presented the City of Prince George's views. She stressed the need to make timber supply decisions that minimized the current pain to mills that employed area residents but not at the expense of long-term viability.
"You have some companies that have already made adjustments in the face of the economic challenges the industry has gone through," she said. "You don't want to penalize those who have been proactive when others have not implemented such foresight."
Stewart said Sinclar Group closed its Winton Global lumber company completely mostly because of the shrinking timber supply. Sinclar was able to keep its other operations, especially Lakeland, afloat by redistributing the amount they were allowed to cut to the remaining mills.
"The reality is, there isn't enough overall volume. We all know there has to be rationalization," said Sinclar Group's Bruce McLean.
Now, with even more reductions to the timber supply coming, he and Stewart wonder if there will be enough left over to rebuild.
A format has not yet been decided upon, but the legislative committee will return to Prince George on July 6. It is scheduled to hand its final report to the Legislature on Aug. 15.
