 |
|
VANCOUVER – The Province will update Coastal stumpage rates to reflect market realities; introduce new measures to expand the use of B.C. wood in construction; support growth and diversification in forestry; and further support forest workers, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today in his speech to the 66th Annual Truck Loggers Association Convention.
“There’s no question that our forest industry is facing one of the most challenging times in its history,” said Premier Campbell. “That is why we’re working with workers, contractors, licensees, tenure-holders and communities to build a forest industry for the future that is stronger, more competitive and more diverse than ever before.”
Premier Campbell announced numerous initiatives aimed at building new markets, supporting workers and contractors, and strengthening the industry:
1. Stumpage pricing change: A comprehensive update of
stumpage rates on the Coast to reflect current market realities. Effective Jan.
15, the average sawlog stumpage price on the Coast will be less than $5 per
cubic metre – compared to a rate of $18.56 per cubic metre one year ago – a
reduction of more than 70 per cent.
2. Extending Employment Insurance and Work-Sharing Program: The Province will continue
encouraging the federal government to extend the Work-Sharing Program and
extend Employment Insurance benefits for impacted forest workers for another
year.
3. Tax exemptions for trust funds: The Province will ask the federal government
for tax exemptions for support received through the Community Development Trust
and BC Forestry Revitalization Trust.
4.
A
Wood-First Policy: The Province will expand domestic markets for wood by
requiring all new public facilities to include B.C. wood in their construction
whenever possible.
a.
Expand six-storey wood-frame
construction: To
expand domestic markets for wood, B.C.’s new building code will raise the limit
on wood-frame construction from four to six storeys, starting April 6, 2009.
b.
Expand B.C.
Wood-First Policy to a national strategy: Starting with
Alberta and Saskatchewan, the Province will work to extend the six-storey
wood-frame building code across the country, greatly expanding the domestic
market for lumber. The Province will also urge other provincial governments and
the federal government to implement B.C.’s Wood-First Policy.
5.
A
Commercial Forest Reserve: The Province will look at ways to establish
selected areas of the land base where forestry has the priority both for
harvesting and for growing new trees to secure forest jobs and investment. This
will ensure harvested land remains protected as a forest asset and will not be
set aside for other uses.
6.
Woodworkers’
Lien Act: The Province will introduce legislation to strengthen the
Woodworkers’ Lien Act to give contractors the right to freeze logs harvested in
the event they are not paid for services by a licensee.
7. Increase access to fibre supply: Develop new tools to increase access of fibre supply by connecting tenure holders,
including small tenure holders such as communities and First Nations, with
customers. The TLA will play a lead role in developing and operating new
marketing tools.
8.
Bioenergy
tenure and pricing: The Province will look at ways to create new tenure
and pricing specifically for bioenergy, increasing investment certainty and
ensuring 100 per cent of a harvested tree can be utilized.
“Forestry has been a cornerstone of B.C.’s economy for generations, and we can take steps now to ensure it remains strong for generations to come,” said Premier Campbell. “Working together, we can take advantage of the opportunities to build new markets, capitalize on bioenergy and support forest workers.”
-30-
|
contact: |
Press Secretary Office of the Premier 604 307-7177 |
|
|
|
||
|
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
||
