I spent yesterday at the TLA’s annual Convention & Expo under the sails at Canada Place in Vancouver. The Suppliers Night was even more popular than usual, and actually sold out (I’ve never seen scalpers hanging outside the entrance of this event before). The little pulled-pork buns were irresistible, as were the salmon skewers and the penne pasta dish.
Earlier in the day I attended the “Progress Panel Lunch”. I thought each of the speakers made a good presentation, and I enjoyed the occasional good-natured shot Mill & Timber’s David Grey aimed at some of those in the audience (“I’m paying $90 for utility ... well, not for your utility!” - finger pointed at some log-broker off to the side). Unfortunately there was a “no debating” rule in effect. Too bad – allowing the panelists to test the underlying assumptions of each other’s position could have turned a good event into a great event.
The one theme that really stood out for me was the acknowledgement from most (if not all) panel members that an entirely new model for the way we conduct business in forests is needed to improve the industry’s outlook. I sensed a wide-spread acknowledgement that the changes of the last few years were, in retrospect, just so-much tinkering around the edges, and that what we really need is complete paradigm shift. To paraphrase Bob Simpson’s comments, we need to ask how we would go about forestry in BC if we could just start all over from scratch today, and get rid of everything else.
While several panel members referenced the need for tenure reform in this regard, I didn’t hear anyone on the panel whisper word-one about a truly revolutionary notion for this province: more private ownership of the province’s timberlands. The one characteristic of the BC forest industry that stands out above all else in comparison with other jurisdictions is the fact that the Crown virtually owns the entire land base. As Garry Mancell points out, the only jurisdiction in the Western world where the government owns a greater portion of the land base is Russia – probably not the model we want to emulate. One TLA member I spoke with suggested (hopefully tongue in cheek) that BC was probably now ahead of Russia.
Apparently, a move to area-based tenures is on the way. But is this truly a paradigm shift? Aren’t our TFLs, TSLs, woodlots, and community forest agreements already “area-based”? I think if we truly want to explore “fundamental” change, we need to consider the fact that 96% of the land in this province is publicly-owned, and whether this staggeringly high number might just have something to do with our problems.
The commentary in this blog is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. Persons requiring further information or advice should contact Jeff Waatainen at 250.758.9485 or jeff@bcforestrylaw.com
