Forestry workers from across Vancouver Island took to the streets Thursday to protest a recent B.C. provincial government decision to defer old-growth logging for the next two years.
The Dec. 9 rally in Port Alberni was the second, and much larger, in two weeks designed to bring attention to the provinceB次元官网网址檚 deferral of logging on up to 2.6 million hectares of forest identified as rare, ancient or sustaining big trees. A five-person technical advisory panel came up with the deferral area. Provincial government estimates are that the move will cut 4,500 jobs, but the Council of Forest Industries estimates the number could be as high as 18,000.
Well over 100 forestry workers, family members and supporters lined Johnston Road in front of Mid Island-Pacific Rim MLA Josie OsborneB次元官网网址檚 office during the two-hour rally. Port Alberni RCMP members showed up shortly after logging trucks blocked the road in both directions. After explaining to organizer Tamara Meggitt that Johnston Road is technically part of Highway 4 and it was important to give traffic a way to get through, vehicles were moved and the protest continued.
B次元官网网址淲e support the right to peaceful protest,B次元官网网址� said Sgt. Peter Dionne, operations support NCO at the Port Alberni detachment. Members attended because the highway was blocked and presented a safety issue, but Dionne said protesters were peaceful and made adjustments when asked.
Meggitt, from Royston in the Comox Valley, said talking, emailing and small, localized rallies havenB次元官网网址檛 been effective in grabbing political attention.
B次元官网网址淲e havenB次元官网网址檛 had any answers and there are still no supports in place, so we are here in a larger capacity to make a little extra noise in hopes that we can be heard,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e weeks away from Christmas, many people in the forest industry have already lost their jobs and they donB次元官网网址檛 have a plan.B次元官网网址�
Meggitt said she wasnB次元官网网址檛 aware if anyone in the Alberni Valley has lost their job as a result of the two-year deferral. She said the stoppage means B.C. Timber Sales has cancelled contracts, and that has left uncertainty for the future.
B次元官网网址淭he government has passed through blanket policies. TheyB次元官网网址檝e done so without socio-economic studies and without proper consultation,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 across the board when it comes to consultation: that is communities, that is industry, workers, First Nations, all of us.B次元官网网址�
Larry Baird, a Yuulu?il?ath (Ucluelet) First Nation member and 40-year veteran of the forestry industry, was driving through Port Alberni when he happened upon ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 rally. He was compelled to stop and support present-day forestry workers. Baird said the provincial government did not consult with any of the Maanulth First Nations, which are already facing deferrals in their territories in Clayoquot Sound.
Larry Spencer of Port Alberni has been working in the logging industry for 45 years and is a part owner in a forestry company. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 fourth generation Port Alberni. WeB次元官网网址檙e good, hard working members of the community,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淭here was no consultationB次元官网网址攏othing. Just letB次元官网网址檚 do it because ofB次元官网网址 protest movement that was essentially started elsewhere. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the Fairy Creek protests,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淭he government wants to take people that are hard working and pay good taxes in their community and the economy and kill that industry.B次元官网网址�
Spencer said the effects of the governmentB次元官网网址檚 decision is far-reaching: Port AlberniB次元官网网址檚 sawmills all use old growth timber for processing, as does Catalyst Paper, a mill operated by Paper Excellence. B次元官网网址淵ou want to just stop all that?B次元官网网址�
Spencer estimates 50 percent of the timber cut right now is old growth. B次元官网网址淓verybodyB次元官网网址檚 going to second growth, but itB次元官网网址檚 not there yet.B次元官网网址�
Brad Cyr moved from Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island to Port Alberni a week ago in order to take a union job. A third-generation logger working as a grapple yarder, Cyr said he came out to the rally to support his fellow forestry workers.
B次元官网网址淚 work in the bush. IB次元官网网址檓 about to retire, but IB次元官网网址檓 thinking about the people coming up in the industry. Especially in these small communities, itB次元官网网址檚 sad,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be really hard on a lot of people. They will lose their homes, theyB次元官网网址檒l have to move, take a low paying job.B次元官网网址�
A faller by trade, Cyr said he only works with old growth. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 more labour intensive. IB次元官网网址檓 old school,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪econd growth is more mechanized. There arenB次元官网网址檛 as many jobs in it. The younger peopleB次元官网网址un the machinery.B次元官网网址�
Shane Moyen and his two young children, Madison and Keaton, sported colourful, handmade placards proclaiming B次元官网网址淭rees are renewable,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淔orestry Feeds my Family!B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淔orestry keeps a roof over my head!B次元官网网址� Moyen drives a logging truck for a company at Franklin River and has been working in the industry for 25 years.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 agree with what the government is proposing,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a little over the top. ItB次元官网网址檚 a small percentage of old growth that is harvested annually and there is no reason why we shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be able to carry on harvesting sustainably into the future.B次元官网网址�
Moyen brought his children to the rally so they could see first hand what he is standing up for. B次元官网网址淭hese guys need to know what itB次元官网网址檚 about,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址漈hese guys need to know where their food comes from and how we put a roof over their head.B次元官网网址�
susie.quinn@albernivalleynews.com
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