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