Safety?

I always believe that putting the health, happiness, and safety of my constituents is, well, my job as your representative. Because I put this value on the people who have trusted me to represent them in the best way possible, I find it ridiculous that the Liberals don't understand the basic message behind "safety".

Such as in stories like this.

More $ for Pet Projects

A recent press release that summarizes exactly how out of touch the Liberal government is.

VICTORIA - While thousands more forest workers are losing their jobs in the Interior, Gordon Campbell has found billions of taxpayer dollars to spend on his pet projects in metro Vancouver, say the New Democrats.

Tolko, Tembec and Canfor have all announced temporary or indefinite mill shutdowns this week in mills in the Kootenays, Okanagan, Cariboo and the Peace. More than 2,000 workers have been affected. Meanwhile, the Campbell government has announced it will spend billions on the Port Mann bridge and hundreds of millions more on a new roof at B.C. Place stadium.

“It’s stunning to see where this government’s priorities are,” said NDP forests critic Bob Simpson. “The forest industry has been in freefall for years and they have done nothing to help. But they can easily find billions of tax dollars to fund the premier’s pet projects.”

More than 20,000 jobs have been lost from the forest industry in the last two years. When pressed for action, Campbell government ministers have acknowledged they are just spectators.

Last year, NDP Leader Carole James unveiled a five-point plan to renew and modernize the forest industry. The plan includes: developing a green forest plan, developing an innovative and diverse industry, community and worker stabilization funding, a permanent commission on forestry and tenure reform. The plan is available at www.ourforests.ca .

“Industry leaders have been calling on government for forest policy changes, but the government has turned a blind eye,” said Simpson. “But they have lots of time and lots of money to plan big projects in metro Vancouver.

“If the government cared about Interior communities, they would enact the NDP plan immediately to help put the forest industry back on the road to recovery.”

Tough Times

BC is clearly being caught in the worldwide recession. Our ties to world markets - particularly the American one - has made a difficult situation worse for residents of our great province.

There is too much to mention about the difficulties facing the forestry industry right now, but here are a few links:

"Tembec to lay off 1400 Workers"
There will be 975 jobs lost in British Columbia - few in Cariboo-North - but nonetheless, that is 975 families who will be without a good, steady pay cheque.

"Price of Average B.C. home to drop"
The price of the average BC home is set to drop by 13 percent. While this information is mostly for the Greater Vancouver Area, I have noticed housing prices drop in Quesnel, and other Northern Communities, as people fear for their livelihood.

"Debt"
Gordon Campbell has brought BC into deficit again. While I am happy that BC is not following the Alberta route of absolutely gutting the public service [early 90's]; it must be asked that if the economy had been better managed from the start, the current downturn would not be hurting British Columbians so much.

I know there are many more issues - The Olympic overruns, Job losses, The Environment...the list goes on.

I look forward to May 12th, when BC can be returned to the public trust, rather than remaining in the hands of the Premier's friends.

National Forest Week

In the midst of National Forest Week, I started thinking about the theme for this year: "Canada's Forests - Biodiversity in a Changing World".

It is interesting how much the forestry sector has changed throughout the years. Instead of focusing on exports and softwood, value-added products are a key component to the British Columbia Forestry system. Alongside the value-added products is an emphasis on sustainable development and management of our forests and all associated industries.

The BC NDP caucus has developed a well-rounded plan to ensure that value added products are created within BC, and that the forest industry is available for generations to come. This plan - conveniently named "State of OUR Forests" - includes:

• a green plan for B.C.'s forests,
  
• develop a new approach to the forestry industry,
  
• create a community and worker sustainability program
• establish a permanent forestry commission in British Columbia
• negotiate softwood lumber and tenure reform.

Interestingly, the theme for National Forest Week includes the idea of protecting the biodiversity of our forests, while adapting to a changing world. Taken from the National Forest Week website:

National Forest Week is a time to reflect on the important role that forests play in our daily lives and to celebrate Canadians' connection to the forest. The life of a forest may span many human lifetimes, yet it is possible to explore a forest’s past and influence its future. Maintaining a healthy forest depends on intricate relationships among the living things that make up that ecosystem – in other words, biodiversity.

Our knowledge of forest biodiversity, built over many generations, is key to understanding how a forest grows and changes over time. This insight, combined with the principles of conservation and sustainable forest management, helps us to use our forests responsibly.

Without being overly partisan, pieces of the BC NDP plan take into account the needs of communities who rely on the forests for their livelihood AND the takes the necessary steps to keep the forests around for future generations.

The Federal Scene

Yesterday, I attended the office opening for our Federal New Democrat candidates Bev Collins [Cariboo-Prince George], and Betty Bekkering [PG-Peace River].

It was a good opening, and I am certainly excited about the New Democrats prospects in this federal election. During my "speech" [really, it was just a friendly hello], I mentioned the lack of action from the Conservative Party of Canada - particularily in their soft-wood lumber agreement.

Frankly, the people of the North Cariboo deserve more than to be sold out by the likes of Dick Harris. Despite the monies promised to help those most critically affected by the mountain pine beetle infestation - compounded by the softwood lumber "deal" - the federal government has simply not delivered on their promises.

I hope this election brings light to issues that matter to Northern communities, and I encourage everyone to be vigilent in questioning your candidates on issues like carbon taxation, softwood lumber, affordability, and creating a stronger economy.

Meanwhile, outside of the hub-bub of the federal scene, my office is always open and available to residents of the North Cariboo. So please, come by anytime.

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.