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True Concerns
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Prince George Citizen Editor Dave Paulson
John Brink has privately rattled the cages of the provincial government of its timber-allocation policy. Now the Prince George manufacturer has done so publicly.
In a candid interview with Citizen forestry reporter Gordon Hoekstra, published Wednesday, Brink warned that unless the government makes changes to encourage more competition for timber to be harvested, northern BC will continue to suffer job losses and communities will see fewer benefits from Crown forests.
Consolidation in the forest industry has narrowed the field of major players to two: Canfor and West Fraser. Together they dominate the industry in northern BC. Data compiled by Hoekstra shows the two companies have a 70-percent stranglehold on the long-term logging rights in the Northern Interior, and control 70 percent of the timber-processing capacity north of 100 Mile House.
Critics say their domination fives them too much influence over timber pricing and contracts. Brink says corporate concentration has worked against communities and discourages opportunities in the secondary manufacturing sector.
Granted, it is well known that Brink owns a secondary manufacturing plan in Prince George, but his concerns far beyond the remanufacturing sector. He says consolidation has led to larger mills in the North, but each employs fewer people. He suggests the government should consider significantly scaling back the big companies’ timber-harvesting rights and offer them for bid in short, non-renewable licences.
This would encourage smaller companies to get involved thereby stimulating investment, at the same time giving secondary manufacturers better access to timber, which is a problem under the current systems, he says.
The Liberals’ forest policy changes in 2002 were inte3nded to spark the entry of more companies, particularly value-added ones. Instead, Brink Forest Products is the only large, healthy secondary manufacturer remaining in the immediate Prince George area.
Brink makes a valid point when he mentions job losses in the primary sector. Every major sawmill expansion announced by the major companies comes with a decreased workforce.
By contrast, expansions by Brink and local primary producers Carrier Lumber and Dunkley Lumber resulted in more jobs.
The BC Liberal government cannot dismiss Brink’s concerns as the ranting of some vengeful political opponent. Brink happens to be president of the Liberal riding in Prince George North and once sough the party’s nomination as a candidate.
His disillusionment with the results of government policy should be resonating within the Liberals’ northern caucus, whose members must seriously look at the issues Brink has raised.
He is blunt, respected, well-researched and is one of their own. And if he is right, government action will be detrimental to northern communities.
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