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Full-time Windermere resident Pauline Haltman was surprised by the success of her own backyard this past summer, when several of her sunflowers reached towering heights by mid-September (when this photo was taken). “This is the first time I’ve ever seen them like that,” she said. “I was quite astounded.” Her secret? “I didn’t do a thing — just lots of water.” Pauline started the plants indoors before planting them in the spring.
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Unpopular forestry legislation axed for time being NICOLE TRIGG editor@invermerevalleyecho.com A recent government decision not to proceed with controversial changes to B.C. forestry legislation is music to the ears of Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald and the East Kootenay environmental group Wildsight. “I’m very pleased that the B.C. government has given up on the tree farm license rollover legislation for the time being,” said Mr. Macdonald. “I see it as an initiative of the B.C. government attempting to further privatize the public lands, and it’s been an initiative that I’ve fought against for the past three years.” The proposed changes to convert some volume-based forest licences to new or expanded area-based tree farm licences met with strong public opposition when it was initially proposed in April of this year. According to a government website,
volume-based tenures typically allow against the proposed TFL conversions, multiple tenure holders to harvest in stating it gave unfair advantage to some the same timber supply area, while companies over others. area-based tenures, with some excep“It’s an example of the worst type of legtions, limit timber rights to one tenure islation,” said Macdonald. “It was using holder operating in a designated area. legislation to settle political debts, for It was the province’s second attempt the BC Liberals and Christy Clark in parto allow conversions, based on the ra- ticular, and it picked winners and losers tionale that more amongst the companies private investments It’s an example of that work on our public on the land would be lands. At the same time, the worst type of it took away our level of made if companies had more private legislation. public control of public NORM MACDONALD property-like rights, lands.” MLA COLUMBIA RIVER-REVELSTOKE thus enhancing tim“We’re glad to see that ber supply, much of which was nega- the government is not moving forward tively impacted by the mountain pine with this initiative and that they seem beetle infestation. to have listened to British Columbians Yet environmentalists regarded the across the province that they didn’t move as a land giveaway to large com- want to see those public lands further panies, and Don Kayne, the CEO of for- privatized through that system,” said estry giant Canfor which operates both John Bergenski of Wildsight. “It’s come the Radium and Canal Flats sawmills up now on several occasions and each in the Columbia Valley, also spoke out time the government has sort of seen
VJ (Butch) Bishop Owner/Operator 4846 Holland Creek Ridge Rd. Invermere, BC V0A 1K0
the light at the last minute and we’re glad that the research that was done did result in that (decision).” The decision by Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minster Steve Thomson to not proceed with forest licence conversions was based on a report by former B.C. chief forester Jim Snetsinger, who, after extensive public consultation, recommended that creating more tree farm licenses should only happen with strong First Nations and community support. “The government backed down for a few reasons I would say,” said Macdonald. “First, there was strong public resistance to tree farm license rollovers and I thank the many from the Columbia Valley who took the time to write government.” He said namely retired foresters, Rod and Gun Club members, as well as Wildsight members, were vocal with their concerns. See A3
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