HILL QUESTIONS GOVERNMENT OVER B.C. BEETLE EPIDEMIC

May 18, 2001

OTTAWA-Today, in the House of Commons, Jay Hill MP (Prince George – Peace River) rose during question period to seek assurances from the government as to what action it was prepared to take to address the mountain pine beetle epidemic in north central BC. 

“Mr. Speaker, yesterday in my office I hosted a briefing regarding the mountain pine beetle infestation in British Columbia that is already killing 5.7 million hectares of working forest – an area twice the size of Vancouver Island! A number that is expected to quadruple this year. 

If left unchecked this epidemic has the potential to destroy the economy of north central British Columbia.

Will the prime minister agree to meet with the new premier of BC and commit to providing a share of the resources necessary to combat this epidemic? questioned Hill. 

Responding on the Government’s behalf the Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Ralph Goodale gave assurances that the Government considered the issue “serious”: 

“Natural Resources Canada is presently conducting a considerable amount of research that is used by western provinces in the management and control of the mountain pine beetle. Obviously the Honorable Member has identified a serious pest problem in our core sector and I am certainly anxious to pursue every reasonable means by which the Government of Canada could help our forest sector find a solution.” 

For further information on the epidemic please contact The Mountain Pine Beetle Emergency Task Force, established by the Cariboo Lumber Manufacturers Association (CLMA) and the National Forest Products Association (NFPA), at (250) 479-0678.