Why OUR forests

For a long time now, the forests of British Columbia have been taken advantage of by external forces - governments in Ottawa that sell out on softwood lumber deals, provincial governments worried more about the latte crowd than the hard-working people living outside of the lower mainland.

While the Campbell government has been exporting raw logs - and the associated jobs - outside of British Columbia, 14,000 individuals have been laid off due to mill closures. That is 14,000 families that were affected by the inability of Mr. Campbell and former forestry minister Rich Coleman to protect the forestry industry.

This is why I am doing a "State of OUR Forests" tour throughout the province. I will be stopping in communities hit hardest by the pine beetle infestation and softwood sell-out. I want to bring a discussion - a debate - about how to improve our forestry industry. The Forests of British Columbia belong to you. You are the key stakeholders, and YOU are the people who have the power to decide what will be done with the forests of British Columbia.

After each stop on my tour, I invite you to share your thoughts here and keep the discussion going beyond each town hall.