
Photo Caption
BC’s logging practices called out by Comox Valley group
Braving a brisk, cold wind on Nov. 8, supporters of Save Our Forests Team – Comox Valley (SOFT-CV) rallied outside Claire Trevena’s office in Campbell River to protest the provincial government’s continued logging of the last stands of productive old growth on the island.
In addition to two public surveys conducted in July, the province recently commissioned a two-person panel to travel throughout BC and gather more information about residents’ attitudes regarding old growth logging.
But, according to SOFT-CV, neither panel member is an independent expert.
“They are shills who have business connections within the timber industry and are primarily interested in economic development,” Megan Ardyche, an organizer of the protest, said.
One day before the protest, Premier John Horgan was in the Comox Valley for a ceremony breaking ground on a new long-term care facility.
SOFT-CV members asked Horgan if the province had any plans to stop logging productive old growth on the island in the face of the climate crisis.
“Well, there’s a strike happening right now, so nothing’s being logged,” Horgan told a member of the group.
Monica Hofer, a member of SOFT-CV, then expressed her concerns regarding old growth logging to Horgan.
“What would you have me do?” he said. “If we don’t log, we’ll be fighting court battles with countries which we’ve signed agreements with about log exports. That’d cost millions of dollars and eat into the provincial health care budget.”
Pat Carl is a frequent contributor to the Comox Valley Civic Journalism Project. She can be reached at pat.carl0808@gmail.com
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Don’t forget to participate in our survey
Participate in Decafnation’s survey
The Week: buzzing about city annexation (don’t bet on it) and 3L logging (yeah, probably)
Comox Valley newspaper ad creates buzz about Courtenay annexing 3L Developments land, but it’s all wishful speculation
The Week: Save 58% on the ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ gifts, and other useless information
The COVID pandemic pushed down the cost of purchasing all the gifts in the classic Christmas song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” this year
Contemplation in action — a friend remembers Father Charles Brandt
A reflection on Father Charles Brandt by Bruce Witzel, chair of the Brandt Oyster River Hermitage Society
Comox Valley receives $9.251 million to offset COVID-19 pandemic economic impact
Four Comox Valley local governments received a total of $9.251 million as part of the $425 million BC Restart Grant Program
Catch an Awe-Inspiring Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21st
The solar system’s two massive gas giant planets pair up at dusk on Dec. 21 with a rare conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. A once-in-a-lifetime view is about to grace the dusk sky worldwide, closing out 2020 with one of the best astronomical events of the year
School trustee candidates for Dec. 12 Area C by-election speak at digital forum
Six candidates for the Comox Valley Schools by-election on Dec. 12 zoomed in for an all-candidates forum this week
CV governments apply for infrastructure funds to ease pandemic economic recovery
All four Comox Valley governments apply for one-time, 100% provincial funds for ready-to-go infrastructure projects that can create immediate jobs and help communities recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic.
The Week: COVID in the Valley, future of 3L property and a possible Grieve connection
A commentary on COVID safety in the Comox Valley, plus what might happen to the 3L Developments’ 500 acres near Stotan Falls now that the CVRD has rejected their request to amend the Regional Growth Strategy
BC Seafood Festival cancelled at last minute, two more CVEDS directors quit
The Comox Valley Economic Development Society pulled the plug on next week’s BC Seafood Festival after public health officials stepped in this week to ensure pandemic protocols were being followed
I wonder….
Is there currently in BC an ‘Industry WatchDog Agency’ NOT filled by individuals from that industry? Plus strong lobbying efforts by people benefitting from the ‘Rip & Ship’ attitudes of our resource-extracting industries.
My unborn grand children are screaming at me, “Leave the Old Growth Forests for us!”
Well, our Comox Lake watershed is being logged. I do understand folks who want to protect our remaining old growth forest-it is a one time thing-whats the hurry.China will still be here in few years to buy our logs.
While your unborn Grandchildren are crying for the forests, I’m thinking that the our Governments are selling our country with debts. It could be our great Grandchildren will not have much of a say ,with foreign owners
Thanks, Monica, for clarifying. I accept full responsibility for putting quotes around what Horgan said rather than making it clear that it was paraphrased. I agree with you that setting up an either or situation (chose between health care and court battles) just doesn’t cut it, although it does seem to allow the provincial government to justify “cutting” the very little old growth left on the island.
Just to clarify: I had a brief opportunity to chat with Mr Horgan on the day of the ground-breaking “ceremony” during which time he countered my concerns about old growth logging with some comments about cutting funds to education and healthcare. The author of this article seems to have paraphrased in the last quote; these were not his exact words. However, having said that, the gist certainly was that he saw it as a “black and white” scenario: either the government keeps the logging companies happy, or he calls a moratorium on old growth logging and I (and others like me who want to save old growth) have to live with the guilt of BC having no more quality healthcare or quality education. Hmmmmmm……