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
CVRD directors approve racecar testing at Smit Field for one year by 2-1 vote
Racecar testing will continue at Smit Field next to Nymph Falls Nature Park, at least for another season, after Comox Valley rural directors voted 2-1 in favour of a scaled-down temporary use permit
The Week: VIHA and province disrespect our hospital board, medical staff and the public
As the Vancouver Island Health Authority reduces health care services to north islanders and deflects accountability, the public looks to the Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District board for advocacy
The Week: March for our planet today, but who will take the big, bold steps we need?
The Comox Valley will march at 1 pm today for changes to slow down climate change. But are we really just giving lip service when bolder actions are needed to save the planet?
The Week: Where did the Attorney General go; and, Trudeau’s middle ‘class’
Has the BC Attorney General’s office may have changed its view of the Town of Comox’s desire to alter the Mack Laing Trust? How else to explain the last eight months of dead silence?
Comox Valley climate activists join 1,700 discussion events worldwide
At a meeting with nearly 100 Comox Valley climate activists, Will Cole-Hamilton discussed global progress in solar and wind technologies, how the City of Courtenay has addressed climate change and why climate marches are so important
Petition put to BC Legislature: restore North Island pathology
North Island MLA Claire Trevena presented a petition signed by over 2,500 people to the BC Legislature Nov. 20 that calls for the return of onsite clinical pathologists’ services to the Campbell River Hospital and to investigate possible conflicts of interest within Island Health
Comox Valley to discuss the climate crisis on Wednesday, Nov. 20
The Comox Valley will join millions of people worldwide to talk about the reality of the climate crisis, what it means and what you can do. The local event will take place from 7 to 9 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Comox United Church Hall
Hospital district board debates advocacy role, doesn’t back off on retaining NI pathology
Should the Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District advocate for health care services on behalf of its constituents? Or is the district’s role limited to funding 40 percent of selected capital projects?
Jesse Ketler, first woman to chair the Comox Valley Regional District Board
Cumberland Councillor Jesse Ketler will be the first woman to chair the Comox Valley Regional District board, and she defeated two male opponents to win the position
Curtis Road residents threaten legal action over sewage commission failure on odour issues
Rural Comox Valley residents have threatened legal action against the Courtenay-Comox Sewage Commission over noxious odours emanating from the treatment plant near their homes on Curtis Road
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……