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Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Volume 92 - No. 26
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Women Building Communities panel event held in Burns Lake. p2
www.ldnews.net
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$1.34 HST inc.
Burns Lake and District Seniors Society picnic held at Spirit Square. p19
Lakes District timber for Lakes District mills Special committee on timber supply stops in Burns Lake REBECCA BILLARD A committee of MLAs in the midst of a whirlwind tour to consult on timber supply issues arrived in Burns Lake last week. Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad, special committee on timber supply chair promised locals during a rally following the meeting that he is committed to doing everything he can to help Burns Lake move forward. The committee’s terms of reference are to consider recommendations that could increase timber supply, including changes to land use objectives and rates of harvest and the conversion of volume based tenures to area based tenures. The committee will also consider whether any changes to current legislation is required. The all party committee that includes four B.C. Liberal and three NDP MLAs was ap-
pointed in May 2012 to make recommendations to address the loss of mid-term timber supply due to the mountain pine beetle epidemic, and its decision will ultimately determine the rebuilding of Babine Forest Products, that was completely destroyed in a tragic explosion and fire on Jan. 20, 2012. Hampton Affiliates, the majority owner of Babine Forest Products is requesting a one million cubic metre annual fibre supply in order to make a rebuild of the sawmill economically viable. A discussion paper that the special committee on timber supply recently released, outlined the issues. It is projected that in 10 to 15 years, overall provincial timber supplies will be 20 per cent below the preinfestation levels and that this reduction may last for up to 50 years. The report lists options, More on page 7 ...
Rebecca Billard photo
Hundreds of community members, including Hampton Affiliates Babine Forest Products and Decker Lake Forest Products employees gathered on the lawn at the College of New Caledonia for a rally to demonstrate to the special committee on timber supply how much support there is in the community for the rebuilding of Babine Forest Products. Committee chair and Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad, said he will do everything he can to ensure Burns Lake moves forward.
Comfor long term employees released from company REBECCA BILLARD According to Comfor Management Services Ltd. (CMSL) president Quentin Beach, two long term employees of the company were released last week to make way for company restructuring. At 10:20 a.m. last Thursday, the Burns Lake RCMP were called to the CMSL of-
fice for an employee disturbance, however no further information was given. Unconfirmed reports have indicated that CMSL executive assistant Michael RiisChristianson and Burns Lake Community Forest general manager Dawn Stronstad were the long term employees that were released from the company. In an email sent to Lakes District News
last Thursday afternoon, Stronstad said, “I will no longer be employed by Burns Lake Community Forest Ltd. effective this date.” Lakes District News asked Riis-Christianson for comment and in an email he stated, “On the advice of counsel, I cannot comment at this time, other than to confirm that I was terminated without cause.” Lakes District News attempted to reach
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Stronstad for further comment, however no response was given before press time. Via a subsequent press release, Beach said the CMSL board of directors made the decision to restructure the company in an effort to streamline operations. “As a result, two senior staff members of Burns Lake Community Forest and CMSL have been released More on page 5 ... CNC is offering Social Services Worker, University and Trades Preparation courses over the summer. Start your fall program with the skills you need to succeed!
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Phone: 250.692.1700 • Fax: 250.692.1750 • Toll Free: 1.866.692.1943 545 Highway 16 West • PO Box 5000, Burns Lake, BC • V0J 1E0 Email: lksdist@cnc.bc.ca • Website: www.cnc.bc.ca/lakesdistrict