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Brink plans more expansion
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By Gordon Hoekstra - Prince George Citizen
Prince George’s B.C. Liberal candidates on Tuesday joined another industry representative to reiterate their election theme that their policies have set the stage for an improving economy.
Brink Forest Products president and CEO John Brink provided a detailed report on his latest expansion plans in Prince George. He opened a second finger-joint lumber plant last year, and a third operation opened just weeks ago.
Brink unveiled Tuesday he plans to open a fourth finger-joint operation at the CNR industrial site, and also plans to build a sawmill in the BCR industrial site. Opening a sawmill will also allow him to restart a lumber remanufacturing plant.
The expansions already in place have increased his workforce to about 150 from 50 three years ago.
More workers will need to be hired for the fourth plant and the sawmill, he said.
"In the last 12 to 18 months, Brink Forest Products has doubled in size. We intend to double in size again," Brink told reporters, with the three Liberal candidates at his side.
Brink said he hasn’t secured any timber harvesting rights for the sawmill yet, traditionally a key component of starting an operation. He said he still hopes to do that, but will also go to the open market for timber.
One of the B.C. Liberals’ key forest policy reforms has been to claw back timber rights from major forest companies and put some of that up for auction. More timber is also available in northern and central B.C. because of the mountain pine beetle epidemic.
Brink’s support is in contrast to a stinging criticism he delivered four months ago on the Liberals forest policy reforms.
Brink warned then that if fundamental changes were not made in how the province allocates timber, perhaps going as far as putting all timber rights up for auction, northern B.C. was doomed to increasing job losses and fewer benefits from publicly-owned forests.
On Tuesday, Brink, who is the Liberal riding president in Prince George North, did not try to back away from those criticisms.
He said he still feels strongly that more needs to be done to foster a value-added wood sector, and to encourage the start-up of smaller and medium-sized companies.
"I believe the government is listening," said Brink, adding he will continue to speak up when he disagrees with government policy.
"All in all, I feel positive enough to continue investing in this region," he said.
The Liberals have already staged similar news conferences at two other forestry operations: Gateway Forest Products and Dollar Saver Lumber.
Another event was held with mining officials at Terratech Equipment, where the executive extolled the Liberals’ revised tax and regulatory regime they say has helped the mining sector rebound.
Prince George North Liberal incumbent Pat Bell said Brink’s expansion plan is about confidence, a confidence that business did not have in the 1990s. The NDP was in power for two successive terms from 1991 to 2001, when the liberals swept to power with a 77-2 majority.
Prince George-Mount Robson Liberal incumbent Shirley Bond said the election campaign is exciting because "positive things" are happening in northern B.C.
"Week after week during this campaign, we have found business is expanding," she said.
"We’ve got new job opportunities, and today is no exception to that."
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