|
|
|||||||
|
  As head of a Forestry Association representing 44 member companies with 68 sawmills and almost 13 billion feet of lumber production, imagine my surprise in reading in the July 14 Vancouver Sun that "forestry" was having a quiet labor crisis and that "forestry was struggling," along with the suggestion that in downtown Vancouver nobody really cared. Frankly we should all care. While the above noted story really referred to the Coastal industry and a threatened labour strike, the picture in the interior is exceedingly grim. The factors at play are no secret: 15% export tax for lumber shipped to the U.S.; unprecedented run of low lumber prices reflecting the downturn in the U.S. housing market; significant and rapid appreciation of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar; and, the impact of the Mountain Pine Beetle. The latter results in less volume of marketable timber per hectare, higher manufacturing costs, lower lumber recovery factors and lower product values. These impacts are beyond our control and most companies are bleeding cash. And why should one care? First, notwithstanding current economics, it is the contribution made by direct and indirect employment in the sector of about 230,000 persons. Second, it is payments by the sector to all levels of government of over $3 billion per year. These are not easily replaced and it is up to all - companies, workers, government and communities to ensure that in the current climate, and in the good times, both on the Coast and in the Interior, that every step be taken to ensure that costs are reduced or eliminated from the system. Only with this constant vigilance can we have an opportunity to remain strong and dominant players in the global market and support the forestry operations and thousands of well paying jobs that provide the revenue needed to support government expenditures on health and education. John Allan |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Drivers need to use extra caution on the roads this summer. With private motorists responsible for 84 per cent of collisions with logging trucks and people heading to the roads for their summer vacations, all drivers need to be aware of the increased traffic and the need to drive safely. "The summer brings more holiday travel, alcohol use and construction delays, as well as more cyclists, pedestrians and motorbikes on the roads," says Arcand. "People need to know what they're up against." Arcand says some tips she has for drivers include giving yourself enough time to reach your destination, taking breaks from driving, drinking water instead of pop or coffee and not overloading your vehicle. The Council's Forestry TruckSafe program is involved in a number of initiatives to improve safety on the roads. Starting this weekend, a series of radio ads will run throughout the province, reminding all drivers to be safe while behind the wheel. The ads focus on wearing seatbelts, not drinking and driving, slowing down and minimizing distractions. Additionally, the Council has been assisting Industry Canada and the Ministry of Forests and Range to overhaul the province's resource road radio frequencies. A number of stakeholders collaborated to develop a new system with fewer and more easily identifiable channels. This system allows for a simple, straight-forward way to co-ordinate where the channels are used. The TruckSafe program is also developing certification standards for truckers and ensuring all trucks in BC use vehicle identification number (VIN) plates. Supported by licensees, contractors, WorkSafeBC and BC Timber Sales, the program involves truck owners putting unique numbered plates on their vehicles for identification and safety purposes. Since launching the program last fall, thousands of truckers from Chetwynd to Smithers to Clearwater have enrolled. To find out more information about the Forestry TruckSafe program visit the Council's web site at www.bcforestsafe.org. |
| 
"The Richmond Oval will be the premier venue of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games," said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. "The spectacular wood roof will be one of its most remarkable features and help make it an international showcase for sustainable building practices." The Government of Canada and Province of BC have each contributed $30 million to the Oval through the $580 million capital budget for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. In addition, the Government of Canada and Province of BC funded the Games Operating Trust, which will provide significant ongoing funding toward the operating costs of the Oval. "Today's raising of the roof at the Richmond Oval marks a milestone in our preparation for the 2010 Winter Games," said Minister of Natural Resources Gary Lunn, on behalf of David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver–Whistler Olympics. "British Columbia is the world leader in softwood lumber products and the engineering technology to use wood in place of concrete and steel," said Forests and Range Minister Rich Coleman. "The Richmond Oval highlights both of these advantages and showcases that BC wood products and designs are an energy efficient and cost-effective alternative for large-scale construction projects." The first of the Oval's 15 roof spans was completed in a special ceremony at the Oval. Manufactured in Penticton from BC wood and using a glulam process, the spans are nearly 100 metres in length. Once completed, the spans will be linked by a one-of-a-kind "wood wave" design that was developed in BC and features arched trusses and rafters, and a curvature in the surface panels that will give the roof a rippled appearance. The Richmond Oval, home of speed skating for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, will be the first building in the world to include a roof of this exportable new design, which is built exclusively from wood and will use more than one million board feet of pine beetle kill wood from BC forests. Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd. is contributing $1.5 million towards the engineering and design of the roof in order to support and promote the use of BC wood. The 33,000 square-metre Oval is scheduled to open in the fall of 2008, with a 400-metre track and seating for approximately 8,000 spectators. In addition to being the home of speed skating competitions during the Olympic Games. The Oval will become an international centre of excellence for sports and wellness, special events and other activities. The Richmond Oval is scheduled to open in the fall of 2008. Story and photo courtesy of Ministry of Forest and Range Media Room. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The day began with the students walking around the old buildings at Cottonwood House identifying all the things early pioneers made from wood. Then the students, teachers and parents gathered at the old corral to watch and cheer on the logger sports enthusiasts from Quesnel and Prince George as they demonstrated their skills in the two-man crosscut, Grand Prairie accuracy, hot-saw, standing butcher block cut, and axe throw events.
Following a hearty 'loggers lunch' of beans and hot dogs, the students danced to the old time music of the Country Cousins and then broke into groups for their own logger sports activities which included a team chokerman's log pull, individual spike pounding and two-man Swede saw cutting. "We wanted the students to come out, learn, have fun and leave with a greater understanding of forestry and how it has shaped the way we are today," noted Dan Broderick, Forestry Teacher at Quesnel Secondary School and co-host of the program. Bill Ottenbreit, Principal of Bouchie Lake Elementary school summed it up nicely, "This was a fantastic event", noted Bill, "our students had a wonderful time and learnt so much about our rich forestry heritage. Thank you." Heritage Forestry Days at Cottonwood House is a new Industry/Education Partnership between COFI Northern Operations Forest Education Program and School District No. 28 (Quesnel). For more information contact: Chris Lear, COFI Northern Operations, by phone at: (250) 614-4352 or e-mail at: lear@cofi.org. |
 
A delegation from the city of Putian, China came to Canada recently with questions regarding the risks of importing Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) wood into China. They were accompanied by representatives from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Canadian Forest Service. The BC portion of their trip was organized by COFI.
In Prince George the group toured an urban Mountain Pine Beetle harvest operation as well as Canfor's PG Wood sawmill. They learned that it is often the case that there are no live MPB in the harvested trees. To the extent there might be live MPB in the trees, it is unlikely that they would survive the de-barking and sawmilling process. The final most definitive assurance was provided when it was explained that the Heat Treatment (HT) stamp on kiln dried lumber guarantees that the product reached a minimum 56 Celsius for at least 30 minutes. Detailed records of the treatments are maintained by the manufacturer. Third party verification of this is provided by lumber grading agencies such as COFI and is again verified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. COFI and their funding partners (Forest Innovation Investment, Canada Wood, and member companies) have made significant efforts in diversifying markets for our forest products. Hosting trade missions is one such measure. For more information contact Steve Kozuki by phone at: (250) 564-5136 or by e-mail at: kozuki@cofi.org. |
|
 On July 26, 2007 WorkSafeBC's orientation and training requirements for young and new workers come into effect. New section 3.22 of the OH&S Regulation defines the term "new worker" as being inclusive of any worker who is new to a workplace, or where changes to workplace hazards in the worker's absence, or new hazards present in a workplace, or relocation to another workplace, could result in the worker being exposed to hazards for which they have not received orientation and training, or as being any worker who is under age 25. New section 3.23 (1) requires employers to provide all young and new workers with orientation and training about safe work procedures and how to recognize hazards on the job. New section 3.23(1) sets out orientation and training topics which are to be covered before a young or new worker begins work in the workplace. Go to the WorkSafeBC website for documents and links with more information about the new Regulation, along with some useful tools to help your business implement the new Regulation: |
||||||||||||||||||
|
 WorksafeBC has issued a reminder that when it comes to heat stress, awareness and prevention are key. Most of us welcome summer's arrival - especially the balmy conditions it brings. But the hot weather should also serve as a reminder to those working in warm environments (outdoor and indoor alike) that, when it comes to heat stress, awareness and prevention are critical. When you're able to identify and quickly treat early symptoms of heat stress, your chances of preventing more severe (and possibly fatal) conditions rise. Watch for these early signs and symptoms:
For more information and resources go the WorkSafeBC website: |
|  The Ministry of Small Business and Revenue is undertaking a review of British Columbia's off-highway fuel tax refund process. The goal of the review is to determine if the ministry can streamline the current refund process. As part of the review, the ministry will organize regional meetings, depending on interest, in Fort St. John, Prince George and Kamloops, and on Vancouver Island. At these regional meetings, the ministry will provide stakeholders with:
If you would like to participate in one of these regional meetings or provide comments in advance, please contact the Ministry by September 7, 2007. Further Information
If you have any questions or
comments about the review,
please contact the Ministry. For more information on how motor fuel tax applies to clear and coloured fuels, please see Bulletin MFT 007, Fuel Used by the Oil and Gas Industry, and Bulletin MFT 010, Fuel Used by the Logging and Mining Industries on the Ministry web site: www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/ctb/Logging.htm |
||||||||||||||||||
