Nearly a year later, the Task Force on Forestry Development for the province of Saskatchewan has put forth its list…
Nearly a year later, the Task Force on Forestry Development for the province of Saskatchewan has put forth its list of recommendations.
The panel was first established last year, when Prince Albert Pulp and Paper confirmed it would be closing down in April of this year. According to a report by Meadow Lake Progress, the task force came up with a total of 17 recommendations that covered the creation of an agroforestry industry, a forestry cluster that would emphasize engineered wood products, and the recognition of the value of non-timber forest products.
According to the report, Tom Waller, co-chair of the task force and forestry secretariat confirmed the panel was designed in order to improve the ‘overall health of the industry.’
“The focus needs to be put on the move to more value added forestry,” Meadow Lake Progress reported him as saying. “It will help utilize the largest amount of the forestry resources we do have. With the downturn in the softwood deal with the States, and various other global factors affecting the industry, the task force took steps towards improving the industry over the long run.”
The report further confirmed Ty Rutzki, general manager for Mistik Management in Meadow lake as saying the panel could benefit from more industry representation.
“There was no one from the forest industry on the Task Force,” he said. “They had a good cross-section of people, but I believe not having a representative who works in the industry was a mistake.”
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