Feds Offer Chump Change

The federal Conservative government announced another $6.5 million Friday to help stop the spread of the mountain pine beetle epidemic in B.C.
This is about equivalent to the amount P&T workers in Fort St. James have lost in payroll alone since October. Or to the amount those workers plus (pick any one mill in Mackenzie's workers) would have paid in income taxes this winter.
It's somewhat disheartening the Harper government will not invest the equivalent amount it will spend to lease tanks for Afghanistan, purchase one fighter or transport plane, let alone subsidize a splashy show for the Olympics to aid BC's main industry.
The only bright spot is that they are at least not yet signing Free Trade deals for Siberian lumber, so we're not as shafted as those thousands of laid off Ontario auto workers.
---PG CITIZEN LINK

Emerson's Skewed Reality

Trade Minister David Emerson spoke of the "tangible benefits" of the Softwood Lumber Agreement as he doled out a portion of the fees collected to six of the Provinces. Emerson's perception of a benefit must be as skewed and distorted as his perception of democracy, which leaves one wondering what the man is doing in Cabinet instead of in psychiatric care.
Over 50 sawmills have closed and 6,500 workers have lost their jobs in 2007 due to a combination of the high dollar, low demand, and the softwood lumber duties. The forest sector is reeling in one of it's lowest points in modern history.
Emerson, elected as a Liberal in a Vancouver riding, crossed the floor to the Conservatives before Parliament sat, a move unprecedented in Canadian Parliamentary history. Only 17% of the voters in his riding voted Conservative, and Emerson was quoted saying that he left the Liberals as he could not accept their near deal on softwood as it contained a duty, which he suddenly supported and rammed through as a Conservative.
The agreement gives the US lumber industry incredible veto power over how the money the duty collects is spent, and much of it is being used for retraining workers to leave the industry.
It is my opinion that any supposed 'unfair trade advantages', (a claim repeatedly lost by the Americans during the original dispute) have been totally negated by the rise in the Canadian dollar and are therefore invalid. Tear up the Agreement unilaterally and wait for the US to respond. Use the money collected to fund any challenges, to advertise direct to the American public the fact this trade dispute is denying them low cost building supplies and earn some respect from the US Gov't by standing up to them. Americans respect strength far more than they respect the brown-nosing lap dog approach taken by Stephen Harper and the Conservatives.
--- full article from the Sun

Wind Farm for the Fort?

C-Free Power is looking into developing a wind farm near Fort St. James. It will be near Stuart River Provincial Park just outside of the Fort - full article PG Citizen

P & T Sells Pulp Mills

Pope & Talbot has found a buyer for the Mackenzie Pulp mill, but as of yet nothing for the sawmill here in the Fort - from the PG Citizen

Mt. Milligan: Environmental Review Begins

The environmental review for Terrane's Mt. Milligan mine begins today with a public comment period slated Jan 12 0 Feb 11th. The review is expected to last 3 or 4 months.
It's interesting to note that financial plans were made with gold at $550 oz, copper at $2.50 lb. while this week copper and gold are trading at $860 and $3.13.
Full article in the PG Citizen

Maybe Mackenzie Pulp Mill, No Interest In The Fort

It is reported that Asia Pacific may be interested in acquiring the Pope & Talbot Pulp mill in Mackenzie, but still no buyers interested in the sawmills in Fort St James or Midway. There may be more news possibly by the end of the week. From PG Citizen.