MERRITT — A convoy of as many as 200 logging trucks is to arrive in Vancouver Wednesday as owners and drivers highlight the effects from dozens of mill closures and thousands of layoffs in British Columbia’s forest industry.It will be escorted by police to downtown Vancouver where local and provincial politicians are gathered for the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.
Merritt business owners and log haulers Howard McKimmon and Frank Etchart are organizing the convoy and say participants have come from all parts of the province. McKimmon says they have lost work because sawmill closures mean they are no longer needed to carry logs to the mills. Related He says the effect of the forest industry downturn is widespread, disrupting businesses from barbers to grocery stores and everything in between.He says small-town B.C. is dying and he’s calling for changes to the stumpage system to revive the industry.Critics say if the fee was calculated more frequently, it might more accurately reflect the type and amount of wood being cut, potentially reducing costs for lumber companies.This report was first published by The Canadian Press on Sept.
If this is a cry to retrain workers to other industries yes and stop raw log exports to keep more jobs yes. Help investment into new products yes. If this is a whine for corporations to log every last tree 🌲 till there’s none left NO.