Industry dialogue needs to stay open
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Updated: October 13, 2009 5:30 PM
It is always nice to have affirmation, and recently the city received theirs when it comes to industrial taxation in B.C.
At the UBCM, members voted in overwhelming support of having new framework for dealing with taxation disputes when it comes to disputes, such as the one Castlegar is currently mired in with Zellstoff Celgar.
It comes with little surprise, you would expect to find that much support among friends, but it is also welcoming as the wording suggests it will be open and constructive process.
As the Interfor mill in Grand Forks gets fired up after a long break, many a people must be wondering what must be happening in Castlegar. We are, too, and are trying to get a hold of the appropriate parties to find out what is happening.
Regardless, the city needs to be treading carefully over the next few weeks to make sure their actions with Celgar do not in some way impact what may or may not happen with Interfor.
If the Grand Forks mill is starting, that must be some indication the market is turning around. And while Interfor and the union may have their own hurdles to jump, the city does not want to be seen as another obstacle if a solution starts to draw near.
Not to say the city should just roll over. They should be working towards getting what they are owed, but they need to keep an air of cooperation about them if want to but themselves in a good position in the future.
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