Forestry workers from across Vancouver Island took to the streets Thursday to protest a recent B.C. provincial government decision to defer old-growth logging for the next two years.
The Dec. 9 rally in Port Alberni was the second, and much larger, in two weeks designed to bring attention to the province91裸聊视频檚 deferral of logging on up to 2.6 million hectares of forest identified as rare, ancient or sustaining big trees. A five-person technical advisory panel came up with the deferral area. Provincial government estimates are that the move will cut 4,500 jobs, but the Council of Forest Industries estimates the number could be as high as 18,000.
Well over 100 forestry workers, family members and supporters lined Johnston Road in front of Mid Island-Pacific Rim MLA Josie Osborne91裸聊视频檚 office during the two-hour rally. Port Alberni RCMP members showed up shortly after logging trucks blocked the road in both directions. After explaining to organizer Tamara Meggitt that Johnston Road is technically part of Highway 4 and it was important to give traffic a way to get through, vehicles were moved and the protest continued.
91裸聊视频淲e support the right to peaceful protest,91裸聊视频� said Sgt. Peter Dionne, operations support NCO at the Port Alberni detachment. Members attended because the highway was blocked and presented a safety issue, but Dionne said protesters were peaceful and made adjustments when asked.
Meggitt, from Royston in the Comox Valley, said talking, emailing and small, localized rallies haven91裸聊视频檛 been effective in grabbing political attention.
91裸聊视频淲e haven91裸聊视频檛 had any answers and there are still no supports in place, so we are here in a larger capacity to make a little extra noise in hopes that we can be heard,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e weeks away from Christmas, many people in the forest industry have already lost their jobs and they don91裸聊视频檛 have a plan.91裸聊视频�
Meggitt said she wasn91裸聊视频檛 aware if anyone in the Alberni Valley has lost their job as a result of the two-year deferral. She said the stoppage means B.C. Timber Sales has cancelled contracts, and that has left uncertainty for the future.
91裸聊视频淭he government has passed through blanket policies. They91裸聊视频檝e done so without socio-economic studies and without proper consultation,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 across the board when it comes to consultation: that is communities, that is industry, workers, First Nations, all of us.91裸聊视频�
Larry Baird, a Yuulu?il?ath (Ucluelet) First Nation member and 40-year veteran of the forestry industry, was driving through Port Alberni when he happened upon Thursday91裸聊视频檚 rally. He was compelled to stop and support present-day forestry workers. Baird said the provincial government did not consult with any of the Maanulth First Nations, which are already facing deferrals in their territories in Clayoquot Sound.
Larry Spencer of Port Alberni has been working in the logging industry for 45 years and is a part owner in a forestry company. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 fourth generation Port Alberni. We91裸聊视频檙e good, hard working members of the community,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淭here was no consultation91裸聊视频攏othing. Just let91裸聊视频檚 do it because of91裸聊视频 protest movement that was essentially started elsewhere. That91裸聊视频檚 the Fairy Creek protests,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淭he government wants to take people that are hard working and pay good taxes in their community and the economy and kill that industry.91裸聊视频�
Spencer said the effects of the government91裸聊视频檚 decision is far-reaching: Port Alberni91裸聊视频檚 sawmills all use old growth timber for processing, as does Catalyst Paper, a mill operated by Paper Excellence. 91裸聊视频淵ou want to just stop all that?91裸聊视频�
Spencer estimates 50 percent of the timber cut right now is old growth. 91裸聊视频淓verybody91裸聊视频檚 going to second growth, but it91裸聊视频檚 not there yet.91裸聊视频�
Brad Cyr moved from Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island to Port Alberni a week ago in order to take a union job. A third-generation logger working as a grapple yarder, Cyr said he came out to the rally to support his fellow forestry workers.
91裸聊视频淚 work in the bush. I91裸聊视频檓 about to retire, but I91裸聊视频檓 thinking about the people coming up in the industry. Especially in these small communities, it91裸聊视频檚 sad,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 going to be really hard on a lot of people. They will lose their homes, they91裸聊视频檒l have to move, take a low paying job.91裸聊视频�
A faller by trade, Cyr said he only works with old growth. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 more labour intensive. I91裸聊视频檓 old school,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪econd growth is more mechanized. There aren91裸聊视频檛 as many jobs in it. The younger people91裸聊视频un the machinery.91裸聊视频�
Shane Moyen and his two young children, Madison and Keaton, sported colourful, handmade placards proclaiming 91裸聊视频淭rees are renewable,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频淔orestry Feeds my Family!91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淔orestry keeps a roof over my head!91裸聊视频� Moyen drives a logging truck for a company at Franklin River and has been working in the industry for 25 years.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 agree with what the government is proposing,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 a little over the top. It91裸聊视频檚 a small percentage of old growth that is harvested annually and there is no reason why we shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be able to carry on harvesting sustainably into the future.91裸聊视频�
Moyen brought his children to the rally so they could see first hand what he is standing up for. 91裸聊视频淭hese guys need to know what it91裸聊视频檚 about,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频漈hese guys need to know where their food comes from and how we put a roof over their head.91裸聊视频�
susie.quinn@albernivalleynews.com
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