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CROWN LANDS: WEYERHAEUSER NEEDS LOWER STUMPAGE FEES

VANCOUVER, BC — Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd. welcomes the spotlight on the coastal stumpage system, which it says is unfair. “It is important that the public is confident that it is receiving a fair return for timber harvested from Crown land,” said Craig Neeser, vice-president of Weyerhaeuser and chairman of the Coast Forest Lumber Association. “At the same time, companies must be charged a fair price for timber to ensure the long-term viability of the industry.” The company’s coastal operations have paid $500 million to the provincial coffers in stumpage fees, while losing money on logging operations. “Clearly, this calls into question the fairness and sustainability of the system,” Neeser added. Industry and the BC provincial government led by Forest Minister Gordon Wilson are expected to meet to try to develop a fairer, market-based system.