Barnett: New Democrat wood first amendment would be dangerous
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Updated: November 04, 2009 7:41 AM
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett has been accused of not supporting forest workers.
A Wood First Act recently introduced in the legislature requires provincially-funded building projects use wood as the primary construction material.
New Democratic Party (NDP) MLAs introduced an amendment that would have encouraged the use of British Columbia wood first.
They claim Barnett doesn’t support B.C. wood because she and her Liberal counterparts voted against the amendment.
“It’s a shame that Ms.
Barnett refused to support forest workers in the South
Cariboo,” says Bob Simpson, Cariboo North MLA. “Our amendment would have at least meant that B.C. wood would come first.”
Barnett says the NDP opposition seems to forget there are a couple of problems that come into play with the New Democrats’ proposed amendment, starting with the Free Trade Agreement and protectionism.
“We do not need a trade war at a time when we need to support economic development. By avoiding protectionist policies, we are ensuring our forest industry has a future in B.C.”
Barnett says she totally supports the forest industry in this province and
she works regularly with the Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell and her colleagues to develop a strong sustainable future for the forest industry.
“It would be great if only B.C. wood was on the world market and even better if all that wood came from the Cariboo-Chilcotin, but this
is a real world we live in and not one built on NDP omissions and rhetoric.”
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