A B.C. Government Employees Union report calls on the provincial government to launch a commission of inquiry into the state of forestry and the forest sector, charging the industry is near total collapse.
The B.C. Liberal government immediately dismissed the report as a political document, as the industry reality tells another story, where many mills have restarted since the global recession and a collapse in the U.S. housing market.
The report was issued by the union which represents government employees in the ministry of forests, after polling, discussion with its workers and several forums, including in Prince George.
"It's certainly a criss to most of the families that live in those households (that have lost jobs)," said BCGEU president Darryl Walker.
"We're calling for some ideas that we believe will put communities back in play here," he said.
The call for an inquiry includes a recommendation that field inspections be increased by restoring 2001 funding and staffing levels. The union has earlier been critical of cuts to the forests ministry.
There is also a call to enhance funding to compliance and enforcement, forest inventory, research and reforestation.
Also on the list of recommendations is a call to reform B.C.'s forest tenure system. Among the suggestions that came from forum participants was the expansion of community forest and smaller-based tenures.
