It has been 85 years since the Truck Loggers Association was founded to give independent loggers a collective voice in society and the forest industry. Now they would like the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) to intervene on their behalf with BC’s Minister of Forests, Minister of State for Workforce Development and Chief Forester. This was disclosed during the discussion of a motion from the SRD’s Natural Resources Committee at the Wednesday December 11 Board Meeting.
Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney said she is not a member of the Natural Resources Committee, but the issue is a concern to her. The Forest Practises Board recently released a report that stated there was a deficit of old growth on Quadra Island and only about 1% of the trees were greater than 250 years old. Three companies were found to be out of compliance with some aspect of forest legislation. The reported added that “the bigger issue is that no one is responsible for monitoring or ensuring that Quadra Island’s old forests are conserved, or that enough mature forests are protected from logging so that they can develop into old forest in the future.”
Mawhinney had brought this matter to the SRD Board asking that “that the board write a letter to the Minister of Forests, the Minister of Water, Lands and Natural Resources, and BC’s Chief Forester, highlighting concerns with old forest management on Quadra Island.”
Instead the matter was referred to the SRD’s Natural Resources Committee, who responded with a very different motion of their own. Perusing the associated materials, Mawhinney realized, “ This motion was coming from the Truck Loggers Association.”
Chief Administrative Officer David Leitch confirmed, “ Sure, this motion was crafted by the delegation, but it was supported by the committee. So this is a motion of the committee.”
The Natural Resources Committee is proposing that:
“WHEREAS Forestry works for communities in every corner of the province, from jobs to exports, to providing revenues for hospitals, schools and roads and communities;”
AND WHEREAS the future of forestry is at risk, with the closure of half of BC mills in the last two decades, and harvest levels falling to more than 40% below the annual allowable cut;
“AND WHEREAS a sustainable forest sector must have access to a reliable annual allowable cut to support the services and infrastructure British Columbians rely on to provide families with livable wages, and bring stability to the supply chain;”
“THEREFORE the Natural Resources Committee directs staff to send a letter to Minister Parmar, and Minister of State Mercier, and Chief Forester Shane Berg, requesting a meeting to discuss their meaningful commitment to delivering a stable, accessible and reliable annual cut.”
There was no reference to the Quadra Island backstory, when the Natural Resources Committee motion was introduced.
Instead CAO David Leitch said, “Mr. Chair, this is a motion from the Natural Resources Committee, so nothing more to add from staff.”
Regional Director, Gerald Whalley of Area A responded, “Just a question for staff here. The meeting, is that to involve the board or just that specific committee?”
CAO Leitch: “It’s unclear, you’re right.”
Director Whalley: “I think it should involve the board, at least for those who are interested.”
Senior Manager Thomas Yates explained, “The Natural Resources Committee has three regional districts involved and members thereof. So, I don’t like to disagree with the CAO, of course, but it seems to me that the intent probably was to meet with that committee. There’s nothing to say it couldn’t also meet with each of the boards.”
Director Whalley: “Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of. I think the board should be included because there are directors here that aren’t on tthe National Resources Committee that would probably be directly affected by this and have a desire to have some input into it. So, maybe a little amendment would be in order afterwards.”
Mayor Martin Davis of Tahsis, who is on the Natural Resources Committee, said, “I had a question regarding that because I got an email from Director Jack asking if we’re interested in getting the group back together because he wasn’t present at the last Natural Resources Committee meeting. I was wondering if that invite was actually extended to other members that aren’t part of the …”
He didn’t get to finish that question before CAO Leitch interjected, “It was because the members are the three regional districts. Certainly, he likely wasn’t able to make the meeting. The scheduling of the three regional district representatives is a nightmare. So he’s certainly a member of it. Considering as Mr. Yates said, there’s three regional districts on there. It might be advisable then to refer the motion back to the committee for clarity.”
Regional Director Rabin Mawhinney pointed out, “I am not on the committee, at least not yet.”
Mayor Davis: “I just wanted to flag that, to make sure that there wasn’t an error that occurred there in terms of how that last meeting was organized.”
CAO Leitch: “Getting that group of people to commit to a certain day is challenging.”
Campbell River Director Susan Sinnott was concerned about delays in getting the letter out, “My understanding of how these things happen is if you get into the queue and ask for the meeting with the minister. Then you can move ahead and potentially invite people who are interested.”
CAO Leitch: “ Yeah, I don’t disagree. Arranging a meeting’s easy and then we can try to rally the participants, if that’s the desire, but it’s whether It’s the folks in that committee or this board that I think is discussion.”
Director Sinnott: “Do we have a scheduled meeting for the next Natural Resources Committee? I’m just so concerned if it was so difficult to get another meeting that is scheduled months and months and months and it’s more timely than ever for our local economy.”
Mayor Julie Colborne of Zeballos suggested, “I would make an amendment to arrange the meeting and then refer it back to the committee for clarity on attendance.”
Director Sinnott: “I’ll second that for discussion. Is that a reasonable alternative from the CAO’s perspective?”
CAO David Leitch: “I think so. I mean, we’re trying to get clarity on who the meeting is with, but while we’re doing that, we can certainly get on trying to organize the meeting.”
Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney added, “I’d like to move an amendment motion because I am comfortable with the letter being sent to the ministers and the chief Forrester asking for a meeting. I think that the theme of the meeting rather than being around the annual allowable cut, really needs to be around stable and reliable forestry sector employment in our communities.”
CAO David Leitch objected, “It’s not related to the direct motion that we have here. So to me, that’s a separate motion.”
Robyn Mawhinney: “For me, the thought was that because this motion was coming from the Truck Loggers Association … I think that here we have our strategic priorities, which are really about local employment and ensuring that we have robust and diverse economic conditions for our communities. That is our board’s directive.”
CAO Leitch: “ I’m not saying your motion doesn’t support our strategic initiatives, but it is too much different than what the motion that’s being put in front of us. It’s not an amendment to it, it’s a new motion.”
Director Mawhinney: “Okay.”
CAO Leitch: “I mean, you are free to make another motion.”
So the SRD Board voted that staff write a letter to the Minister Parmar, Minister of State Mercier and the Chief Forester Shane Berg requesting a meeting to discuss their commitment to delivering a stable, accessible and reliable allowable annual cut.
The Natural Resources Committee is being asked for clarification as to which Directors will be attending.
Links of Interest:
- Concerns About Old Growth Management On Quadra Island Referred to SRD Committees
- Management of Old Forests on Quadra Island – Forest Practises Board
- articles about, or mentioning, forestry on Quadra Island
Top image credit: A logger keeps an eye on his surroundings as he prepares to bring down a tree – photo by James Brooks via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
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