Fibre Supply the Challenge for Forestry Sector Says Minister

Monday, June 06, 2011 12:36 PM

Prince George, B.C.- The new Minister of Forests , Lands and Natural Resource Operations is touring the province, trying to get a feel for the regional issues and concerns.

Steve Thomson admits he has a sharp learning curve on forestry issues but says he sees the big challenge in the future being full use of available fibre.

“Going forward, I think the big challenge is dealing with the mid term and longer term fibre supply” says Thomson “As we work across the province, in the interior, and the coastal industry, we’re working and ensuring we can manage the fibre supply for the industry looking to find the greatest utilization out of the fibre supply that is there particularly here coming out of the uplift of the annual allowable cut that we’ve had for the mountain pine beetle, the concerns, and issues the industry faces in this area in terms of the adjustments that will be coming to the AAC and future apportionment decisions as the AAC adjusts and we balance all of the interests in the industry.”

There are still sawmills in Prince George which remain closed following the collapse of the U.S Housing market. Thompson says the best way to try and get those mills back in production is to build new market opportunities and diversify B.C.’s markets, activities Minister Pat Bell is actively pursuing. “We need to work with all of the industry to try and build those markets, create those additional opportunities and look at how we provide those other opportunities for the full utilization of the fibre that perhaps provides the economic opportunity for harvesting in what might be more uneconomic areas because you’re getting additional values out of those areas that might help be part of the overall mix.”

The additional values could come from the bio energy sector. Thompson says the Ministry is still working on the development of the receiving licence which will allow companies to pick up debris from logging operations for use in the bio energy sector. He says consultation with industry and stakeholders will be underway soon with hopes the new licensing will be in place later this fall.

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Posted on Monday, June 06, 2011 12:36 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: acrider54 on June 6 2011 12:49 PM

Blah blah blah blah, not a clue.

Posted by: DPJ on June 6 2011 1:00 PM

Hope the best for him. Hopefully he can do as good job as Pat Bell did. Will be hard to follow.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on June 6 2011 1:46 PM

Never understood why the government/s insist on putting someone in a cabinet post with no experience?
Yes,there is a learning curve...but at what cost?
Pat Bell should never have been pulled from the Forestry post.
I didn't always agree with him and didn't listen to his consituents very well,but he did have some forestry experience.
What's the point of putting a rookie in the job?

Posted by: NoSeverance on June 6 2011 2:53 PM

No don't bother trying to get those mills running because the companies that own them aren't upgrading them. If those sawmills couldn't make money then they definately won't make money now if they try and start them up without upgrading them.

And then there is the fibre problem. Not enough fibre to go around folks. So pay out the people that are patiently waiting for their severance.

Posted by: Denaljo on June 6 2011 9:00 PM

Fiber supply!? What a joke.
Just hew that wood and draw that water boys; we can ship them logs to the far east with any secondary jobs.

Posted by: Palopu on June 6 2011 9:57 PM

If you want fibre, just stop exporting logs, and you will have all you can handle.

Rustads, and Winton Global will not re-open. Before Canfor opens up mills they will go to two or three shifts at the mills already running. The lumber that used to be cut at Clear Lake will be cut at Isle Pierre. Rustads production will be handled at PG Sawmills, and Winton Global will be handled by Canfors Mills in Bear Lake. And thats that.

Pat Bell was a big supporter of Kevin Falcon, which is probably one reason why he was moved from Forestry. Christy is moving him closer to the door, because whan and if she gets a new majority Government, Pat Bell will not be on the inside. Thats the price you pay for backing the wrong horse.

Posted by: mythoughts on June 7 2011 7:10 AM

Winton Global is selling their logs to Dunkley Lumber.