Click on the video above to watch an edited version of Gordon Campbell’s speech to the TLA
Click on the video above to watch the full version of Gordon Campbell’s speech to the TLA
Click on the video above to watch Gordon Campbell comment at the TLA convention on Forestry Ministry layoffs
Click on the video above to watch an interview with TLA Executive Director Dave Lewis
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BC Premier Addresses Logging Convention
Videography and video editing by Andrew Ainsley
Reporting and article by Chris Johnson
January 20, 2010
“Wood is good.” was the theme of Premier Gordon Campbell’s luncheon address to the Truck Loggers Association Convention and Trade Show on January 21, 2010.
Over 300 delegates representing independent logging contractors dined in the Fairmont Empress Ballroom as Campbell spoke to various issues of concern to the industry, including tax issues, the Wood Workers’ Lien Act, the opening of new markets in China, and the need for more domestic use of wood products.
“If you’ve got a public building in British Columbia, if it’s a school…build it with wood.” Said Campbell “If you’ve got a small hospital in British Columbia you can build with wood…build it with wood. If you’ve got an office building you want to build with wood…build it with wood. If you want to build in the private sector, you want to build housing…build it with wood.”
Campbell also explained how the forest industry could contribute to greenhouse gas reductions by harvesting ‘waste’ wood for biomass gas production, and shared his opinion that more buildings would have remained standing after the earthquake in Haiti if they had been made with wood.
“It’s interesting when you think, ‘what would Haiti look like today if it had been built with wood instead of cinder block?’ And the fact is there’d be a lot of buildings that would still be standing.”
Campbell’s address was one of the first events in a two day convention, being held in Victoria for the first time in it’s 67 year history.
Dave Lewis, Executive Director of the Truck Loggers Association, told B Channel News that the people of BC must ‘embrace harvesting’ if they want to see an economy that can support funding for essential public services.
“If you’re at home thinking about more money for schools, more money for teachers, more money for services, [then] really think about how the lack of harvesting trees has impacted you.”
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Related News Links
Haitian earthquake victims should have used more wood: Campbell
TheTyee.ca – January 21, 2010
Loggers’ lot no walk in the woods
Times Colonist – January 21, 2010
Wood is Good
Vancouver Observer – January 21, 2010
Truck loggers ask for support on controversial exports
Kelowna.com – January 21, 2010
Premier Has Optimistic Message for Coastal Truck Loggers
CFAX 1070 – January 20, 2010
Export more raw BC logs: industry spokesman
CBC.ca – January 20, 2010
BC Premier tells forest industry to look to Asia amid downturn and layoffs
The Canadian Press – January 20, 2010
Truck loggers’ leader steps down citing Haida obligations
Vancouver Sun – January 17, 2010
Truck Loggers convention descends on capital city next week
Times Colonist – January 14, 2009
Bell announces major change to forest sector
BCLocalNews – January 13, 2010
Related Links
BC Ministry of Forests and Range
Truck Loggers Association
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