Archive for year: 2012

The B.C. Liberal government has, since December, been exporting raw logs that its own advisory committee has been saying should be going to producers in B.C.

On Tuesday, New Democratic Party leader Adrian Dix said the Timber Export Advisory Committee (TEAC) deter-mined last December that logs from Quatsino Sound on Vancouver Island should be sold to Teal-Jones of Surrey instead of being shipped overseas.

But Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson overruled that recommendation, Dix said, allowing the logs to be sold into foreign markets.

“The minister owes people an explanation for his decision,” Dix said during question period Tuesday.

“The committee made the determination that keeping those logs in British Columbia was better for our economy than exporting them, and the minister overruled them.”

Thomson said his ministry rejected the recommendation because TEAC had changed the way it was evaluating whether or not logs should be sold to foreign buyers.

“Without just taking their advice directly, in this case because we knew there was policy implications that needed to be considered, we administered the policy the way that it had always been administered and the way they had previously been providing advice to us,” Thomson said Tuesday, adding the committee has no regulatory function, and is an advisory body only.

“It’s not a process of overruling TEAC,” he continued, “it’s a process of a shift in policy advice being received from the advisory committee.”

Ministry staff said the issue stretches beyond Teal-Jones, and has affected about 150 applications since December, comprising about 116,000 cubic metres of timber.

The ministry said that staff overturned TEAC recommendations on 86 applications in December and January, covering 70,145 cubic metres.

In February, the ministry stopped referring anything to the committee from the west coast of Vancouver Island, as they expected the decisions would be overturned. There were 47 offers in February, comprising 35,532 cubic metres.

In March, TEAC requested it be allowed to review cases again, and government agreed. The committee has so far reviewed 18 offers for 10,168 cubic metres, staff said.

Thomson said he has met with members of the committee and is reviewing the change they made in December to deter-mine if it’s something government is willing to adopt.

“We’re continuing to review that with [TEAC] and we’ve committed to get back to them,” he said, adding he will have an answer before the committee’s next meeting in April.

“But because there was a change in determination and a change in policy in terms of their advice we know we needed to look at this and have a discussion around the implications of the policy.”

At issue in the matter is the way TEAC judges fair market value for logs.

As of December, the commit-tee began looking at domestic offers for coastal logs that did not include the costs to ship the logs to the buyer. This represents a change from before, where the offer made for the logs had to include the cost of freight.

It means domestic offers can potentially be more competitive than before.

On Tuesday, NDP forest critic Norm Macdonald said the issue goes beyond the details of how to calculate market value, adding the key is all about jobs.

“You have manufacturers that are ready. You have Teal-Jones that has gone through the pro-cess. This is a company that produces jobs,” said Macdonald. “You have a host of companies that are ready, and these are the crumbs we’re talking about that go through this advisory committee. These are the crumbs, and even them – this minister will deny those mills.”

In 2011, British Columbia exported 5.87 million cubic metres of coastal raw logs. That was up from the 3.86 million cubic metres that were exported from the coast in 2010.

Read more: https://www.vancouversun.com/Liberals+ignoring+committee+exports/6298779/story.html#ixzz1p7mGGyHA

When photographer Frances Litman realized she was considered one of the biggest donors to local environmental charities, she was surprised.

“It made me laugh because I’m an artist,” she said. “I thought, if I’m considered a good donor, this is pretty sad.”

Through research, she says, she learned that environmental charities receive less than four per cent of all charitable giving in Canada – compared with the medical charities that receive more than 80 per cent.

“I thought, this is insanity,” she said. “I thought I was alone in this thought, but what I realized was that all of my artist friends felt the same way. So I said, ‘Why don’t we creatively unite?’ ”

The movement will take the shape of a new festival, appropriately held April 20 to 22 during Earth Week. Creatively United for the Planet, a three-day, all-ages event, will mix entertainment with opportunities to support green charities.

“It’s a way to bring the environmental charities to a fun event,” said Litman.

Several artists have donated their time to the volunteer-run festival, including Ann Mortifee, Robert Bateman, the Soul Shakers, flutist Paul Horn, the Gettin’ Higher Choir and conservation photographer Garth Lenz.

Events kick off April 20 with an all-ages Mardi Gras-themed dance party. Costumes are optional.

There will be sessions on how to make your house green, growing young gardeners and more.

Other events include creative events for kids, opportunities to learn about various animals, a fashion show, a John Lennon tribute concert and a student art auction.

Events will be held both indoors and outdoors at St. Matthias Hall.

Funds raised through the event will benefit the Sierra Club of B.C., the Western Wilderness Committee, the Dogwood Initiative, Ancient Forest Alliance, the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team, the B.C. Land Conservancy/TLC, Wild Arc, RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs), Oases Conservation Society, Peace Valley Environment Association, Child and Nature Alliance, Habitat for Humanity Victoria and YES B.C.

“These charities, now more than ever, need our support if we are going to maintain the lifestyle that we want,” said Litman.

“We have to start taking it on ourselves to give more support to the people who are fighting for this.”

Local environmental charities will be present to build awareness and answer questions. A CRD information booth will also have information about regional sustainable initiatives.

Litman said not to expect a “tree hugger” event.

“This isn’t hippie; this is hip,” she said.

She also promises a “good news” festival. “It’s not about scaring people,” she said. “It’s about, OK, let’s all join together and have a great time over this three-day event.”

Read more: https://www.timescolonist.com/news/todays-paper/Artists+unite+protect+planet/6256946/story.html

Using a backdrop of parkland bought by the Capital Regional District, an environmental group on Thursday called on the provincial government to set up a park acquisition fund similar to that of the CRD.

A fund of at least $40 million a year, raising $400 million over 10 years, is needed if old growth and other endangered ecosystems on private lands are to be protected, said Ken Wu, Ancient Forest Alliance co-founder.

Environment Ministry spokesman Suntanu Dalal said there is no set annual budget for buying parkland, but other strategies – such as density transfers, land exchanges or partnering with organizations such as land trusts – are used for acquiring land.

Until 2008-09, there was a land acquisition budget, Dalal said. “Due to fiscal challenges, that fund no longer exists. However, the ability to continue to acquire key properties has remained,” Dalal said.

Sooke Potholes Regional Park, part of which was protected through the CRD’s park acquisition fund, is an example of what can be achieved, Wu said at a news conference.

The situation is urgent because Island Timberlands is set to log several privately owned forests with high recreational and environmental value, he said.

“The government must step forward with a funding solution,” Wu said. “At the same time, Island Timberlands needs to put the brakes on their plans to log the last old growth stands and contentious areas until those lands can be purchased for protection.”

Island Timberlands did not return calls on Thursday.

The company recently postponed logging on Cortes Island, a move that activist Zoe Miles attributes to intense public pressure. “It’s a temporary victory, but it does give us more time to raise funds for land purchase,” Miles said. “If Island Timberlands is genuinely willing to consider a land sale at fair market value, then it’s the responsibility of our provincial government to listen to its electorate and make that happen.”

Conservationists fear Cathedral Grove Canyon, near Port Alberni, and the nearby Cameron Valley Firebreak are about to be logged.

Dalal said the priority for the next fiscal year will be completing projects where there are legal obligations in place or where land with significant value is donated to the province.

“Lands are selected based on priorities for conservation, recreation or operational purposes,” he said.