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BC Chamber of Commerce Surprised at UBCM Attitude Toward Logging Exports
Vancouver, September 25, 2008 – The BC Chamber of Commerce expressed its surprise today when the Union of British Columbia Municipalities voted to endorse a resolution lobbying the Provincial Government to require that a quantity of harvested timber remain in the Timber Supply Area for processing by local facilities.
“This resolution is in direct opposition to what all the research is telling us,” says John Winter, President & CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce. “That the option to access domestic and international markets for log exports has actually been seen to enhance business opportunities in communities which have been hit by sawmill closures.”
Allowing log exports, although controversial, has in some instances been a positive turn for the forest industry. Logging, booming, hauling, ship tending and barging jobs have been augmented. In addition, local area sawmills have access to more marginally economic stands for processing and export.
“UBCM’s desire to see the forest industry’s problems solved is commendable,” says Winter. “It’s just their ideas as to the solutions which need amending.”
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For more information contact:
John Winter
President and CEO
BC Chamber of Commerce
D 604.638.8110
C 604.376.3577
E jwinter@bcchamber.org