Truck Loggers: Forest Policy Needs Modernizing

Sep 15, 2022 - 2 years ago

In January, delegates attending the Truck Loggers Association (TLA) virtual sessions heard from a broad range of experts and organizations about the serious impact sweeping changes will have on the forest sector, forest workers and communities. To address these impacts and seek a collaborative and collective vision, the TLA will embark on a process to find solutions to move BC’s forest sector forward, ensuring ongoing prosperity for workers and communities.

In recent months, the BC government has deferred 2.6 million hectares of old growth and passed legislation that gives Cabinet sweeping authority to redistribute tenures and unilaterally determine compensation rights of the affected parties.

Delegates to the TLA convention heard how heading down the current path will make the sector “un-investible”. They heard about the feeling of “frustration” because policies were developed with no FNFC involvement, and the devastating impact these policies will have on forest workers, resource communities and the value-added sector.

“In the coming months, the TLA will be working collaboratively with those in the BC forest sector to seek possible solutions and find common ground that a majority of British Columbians can endorse as a reasonable path to success. It will also mean having the difficult conversations with those fundamentally opposed to the forest sector, if they choose to truly engage,” continued Brash. “The process will not challenge government’s broad objectives but rather find the means within those goalposts to move the sector forward.”

Brash suggested there are fundamental starting points, including how harvesting strategies can be implemented that protect old growth while also allowing harvesting to occur. An important aspect of modernization should strengthen the diversity of log and lumber flow in the forest sector through increased reallocation to First Nations and communities. Existing rights of contractors and others should be respected to allow stability and encourage reinvestment. Brash also emphasized the need to work towards a collective vision sooner than later as the uncertainties in the sector are decidedly counterproductive.

For a number of months, the TLA has called for meaningful collaboration among all key stakeholders, including First Nations, community groups, licensees, and non-government organizations. The Association has suggested there is an opportunity for a collective vision for forestry that addresses society’s expectations of BC’s forest-management while ensuring decision-making is informed with a true understanding of the issues and the consequences.

Source: TLA