Opinion

This action gives zero thought to approximately 600 UFCW unionized employees.

For too long, government forest policy has been under the thumb of the giant globalized forest companies with just about everyone else relegated to the sidelines. And we are seeing the results of this lop-sided big company domination with the sorry state of our forests today.

Properly managed, forestry is a sustainable, renewable resource, a goose that can lay golden eggs forever, a generous gift for our children and our grandchildren.

Like with major sporting events, conventions bring people from out of town with the economic benefits rippling throughout our city.

They will argue success in business is no crime, no matter what the social and environmental costs of that success.

Industry and to some extent government, have learned to work with First Nations to establish genuine economic reconciliation opportunities, particularly in the energy sector.

Recycle BC is subsidizing plastic and other waste through fees charged to newspaper publishers.

If anyone at Canfor starts squawking, mayor and council are welcome to remind them that there are other properties that could be seized.

In 2024, Canfor will no longer be paying property tax on the plant they are shutting down. That's tax revenue that will need to be made up for by the rest of the property owners in our city. 

From my recollections the government put a gag order on government forestry officials to not talk about the pine beetle crisis.