QUESTION OF THE WEEK PAGE A3
FROM THE PUMPKIN PATCH PAGE A13
THUNDER TAKES TOURNEY PAGE A17
OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Friday, October 19, 2012
VOL. 99 NO. 14
www.quesnelobserver.com
PM 40005365
$ 34
1
includes HST
FORESTRY
No new wood Time to downsize AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter With the release of government’s action plan to increase timber supply, Cariboo North MLA, Bob Simpson calls it “creative bookkeeping� to inflate the allowable cut. Beyond the Beetle: A Mid-Term Timber Supply Action Plan was released last week, highlighting nine sustained and 11 actions to increase mid-term timber supply. The report, tabled last month by a special committee, looks to increase timber inventory by including “marginally economic stands.� “But our area is already logging those stands,� Simpson said. “Government is not supporting the land base or inventory to guarantee we’re not in a worse situation five, 10 years from now.� The report also highlights silviculture practices, specifically “innovative silviculture practices to grow more trees faster and landscape fire management planning to reduce risks to the midterm timber supply.� But Simpson says government isn’t implementing any practices and “doesn’t have a budget assigned to do it.� The Independent MLA says government is including the projected numbers from logging the economic stands and the silviculture practices to keep the allowable cut at current levels. Simpson says the bottom line is there’s no new wood and no justification in logging in new areas. “Government is not ready to admit what the traditional lumber sector has already told them,� he said. “They need to be able to downsize.� Simpson said one area government could address the issue is by doing a “re-inventory, as soon as possible.� “Then they need to reset the cut at a sustainable level and analyze the potential to take advantage of economic opportunities outside of our traditional timber markets.� Other key elements of the plan include proposed new legislation to convert volume-based forest licences to area-based forest licences and the creation of a new supplemental forest licence to increase bio-energy opportunities and harvest of old-growth forests “to only be considered if it is scientifically and ecologically sound to do so and has the support of local communities and First Nations.� The complete report can be viewed at www.for.gov. bc.ca.
Pump Up with Creatine!
On Sale Now! Regular $33.99 NOW $25.50 351 Reid Street Across from Post Office • 250-991-0298 Helping you build a healthy body & mind, Naturally!
Create-0-Rama Creativity was the word of the day Sunday as young and old grabbed cardboard and other supplies during Create-O-Rama, a free community activity in Helen Dixon field. For more photos see next issue of the Observer. Autumn MacDonald photo
Good day, Quesnel. Thanks for reading — and that includes loyal subscriber Darlene Peterson! To join the Observer family, please call 250-992-2121 and ask for circulation.
"%7&/563& /035) " '-*()5 $&/53& "440$*"5&
Deb Quick, Travel Consultant
250-992-5169 in Quesnel %FCCJF 2 JDL TVravel
Research can be Overwhelming.
5SBWFM $POTVMUBOU Stop Searching and Start Travelling! 1 Deb 5Quick, PMM 'SFF Flight Centre Quesnel, ' will do the research for you. & EFC RVJDL !ĂĄJHIUDFOUSFBTTPDJBUFT DPN ĂĄJHIwww.AskDeb.ca UDFOUSFBTTPDJBUFT DPN "EWFOUVSF/PSUI BCReg#23929