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Moratorium on log exports needed, says B.C. Federation of Labour president
June 27, 2006 By Pulp & Paper Canada
B.C. Federation of Labour president Jim Sinclair is calling for a moratorium on raw log exports.
B.C. Federation of Labour president Jim Sinclair is calling for a moratorium on raw log exports.
“These aren’t just logs leaving our province, these are jobs leaving our province,” Sinclair said in response to a report confirming a 1,000% increase in log exports between 1996 and 2005.
“Our report shows that 3,300 jobs in the forest sector were lost to log exports in 2005,” Sinclair continued. The report estimates 27 mills closed at a cost of 13,000 jobs between 1997 and 2004.
Sinclair said the demand for a moratorium will be province-wide, with forest unions appealing to city councils to take the issue to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, in October.
Sinclair shot down the idea that the Mountain Pine Beetle is responsible for the increased exports.
“This report makes it clear. In 2005, the majority of logs exported were high value species, douglas fir 55%, hemlock 25%, and cedar 7%. Not beetle-infected pine.”
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