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 province香蕉视频直播檚 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 Osborne香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淲e support the right to peaceful protest,香蕉视频直播� 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 haven香蕉视频直播檛 been effective in grabbing political attention.
香蕉视频直播淲e haven香蕉视频直播檛 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,香蕉视频直播� she said.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e weeks away from Christmas, many people in the forest industry have already lost their jobs and they don香蕉视频直播檛 have a plan.香蕉视频直播�
Meggitt said she wasn香蕉视频直播檛 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.
香蕉视频直播淭he government has passed through blanket policies. They香蕉视频直播檝e done so without socio-economic studies and without proper consultation,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 across the board when it comes to consultation: that is communities, that is industry, workers, First Nations, all of us.香蕉视频直播�
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 Thursday香蕉视频直播檚 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. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 fourth generation Port Alberni. We香蕉视频直播檙e good, hard working members of the community,香蕉视频直播� he said.
香蕉视频直播淭here was no consultation香蕉视频直播攏othing. Just let香蕉视频直播檚 do it because of香蕉视频直播 protest movement that was essentially started elsewhere. That香蕉视频直播檚 the Fairy Creek protests,香蕉视频直播� he said.
香蕉视频直播淭he government wants to take people that are hard working and pay good taxes in their community and the economy and kill that industry.香蕉视频直播�
Spencer said the effects of the government香蕉视频直播檚 decision is far-reaching: Port Alberni香蕉视频直播檚 sawmills all use old growth timber for processing, as does Catalyst Paper, a mill operated by Paper Excellence. 香蕉视频直播淵ou want to just stop all that?香蕉视频直播�
Spencer estimates 50 percent of the timber cut right now is old growth. 香蕉视频直播淓verybody香蕉视频直播檚 going to second growth, but it香蕉视频直播檚 not there yet.香蕉视频直播�
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.
香蕉视频直播淚 work in the bush. I香蕉视频直播檓 about to retire, but I香蕉视频直播檓 thinking about the people coming up in the industry. Especially in these small communities, it香蕉视频直播檚 sad,香蕉视频直播� he said.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 going to be really hard on a lot of people. They will lose their homes, they香蕉视频直播檒l have to move, take a low paying job.香蕉视频直播�
A faller by trade, Cyr said he only works with old growth. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 more labour intensive. I香蕉视频直播檓 old school,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淪econd growth is more mechanized. There aren香蕉视频直播檛 as many jobs in it. The younger people香蕉视频直播un the machinery.香蕉视频直播�
Shane Moyen and his two young children, Madison and Keaton, sported colourful, handmade placards proclaiming 香蕉视频直播淭rees are renewable,香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播淔orestry Feeds my Family!香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播淔orestry keeps a roof over my head!香蕉视频直播� Moyen drives a logging truck for a company at Franklin River and has been working in the industry for 25 years.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 agree with what the government is proposing,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 a little over the top. It香蕉视频直播檚 a small percentage of old growth that is harvested annually and there is no reason why we shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be able to carry on harvesting sustainably into the future.香蕉视频直播�
Moyen brought his children to the rally so they could see first hand what he is standing up for. 香蕉视频直播淭hese guys need to know what it香蕉视频直播檚 about,香蕉视频直播� he said.
香蕉视频直播漈hese guys need to know where their food comes from and how we put a roof over their head.香蕉视频直播�
susie.quinn@albernivalleynews.com
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