Hill Suggests Federal Government... “Address Two Problems with One Program”

July 17, 2002

Fort St. John, BC – In a recent letter to Minister Dhaliwal, Federal Minister Responsible for Natural Resources, Jay Hill, MP Prince George – Peace River suggested the Minister consider launching a program designed to target both the Softwood and Pine Beetle crises plaguing the central and northern interior of BC. 

“There may be an opportunity that we are overlooking,” said Hill.  “The mountain pine beetle leaves a blue stain in the lumber, but it doesn’t actually ruin the wood.  There is growing evidence that a market exists for manufacturing blue stained wood products.”  

“I believe there is an opportunity for the federal government to partially offset the consequences of the softwood job losses and pine beetle crises by immediately implementing a program to subsidize a portion of the costs of harvesting, transporting and processing beetle killed timber and provide financial assistance for the increased replanting that will be necessary,” said Hill.  

“A program such as this could effectively address both issues simultaneously and help save forestry jobs until our softwood lumber agreement appeals to the WTO prove successful,” concluded Hill is his letter to the minister.