BCGEU poll finds we can’t trust forest companies to harvest timber in a sustainable way

Residents of Castlegar, Campbell River, Courtenay-Comox, Kamloops and Prince George all agree we can’t trust forest companies on their own to harvest timber in a sound and sustainable way. That’s one of the key findings of a recent poll conducted for the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) by Stratcom Communications.

The survey also finds:

• A large majority of both community members and Ministry of Forest workers polled support more public investment in the forest sector.
• An overwhelming majority of community residents acknowledge the need for good regulation and public oversight of the forest industry by the people who work for BC's Forest Service.
• Also, they reject the notion that we can leave critical forestry matters up to the good will of the timber companies.
• Most respondents are aware the Liberal government has laid off Forest Service workers and among those who are aware of those layoffs, there is overwhelming agreement that the layoffs are a bad idea.

Since January, the BCGEU has conducted four community dialogue sessions, entitled BC Forests. Our Future. Held in Castlegar, Campbell River, Kamloops and Prince George, the union consulted with community leaders at these sessions to develop positive solutions to revitalize the forest sector and re-assert government control over this valuable public resource.

“More than 70 mills have closed across BC and roughly 40,000 forest sector jobs have been lost since the BC Liberal government came to office,” said BCGEU president Darryl Walker. “Over 1000 forest ministry jobs have been eliminated. Compliance and enforcement has been dramatically scaled back, while changes to legislation have allowed forest companies to, in effect, regulate themselves."

“There is a clear disconnect between the BC government's sunny forestry rhetoric and the real experience of British Columbians,” said Walker. “People who live in resource communities have to live with the results of government neglect every day.”

The BCGEU will release a report on the BC Forests. Our Future sessions in the coming months.

Based on the issues raised at the community meetings, the BCGEU has the following recommendations for the BC government:

• The cuts to BC's Forest Service must end, and government should immediately begin reinvesting in our forests.
• The social contract between the forest industry and local communities must be restored and strengthened.
• Government has to take decisive, concrete action to further diversify the industry and generate more value from BC's forests. 
• Tougher regulations and more enforcement are needed to ensure sustainable forest management practices.
• Government should establish a public commission to independently review and make recommendations on forestry issues.
   

Poll results