[WA SUPPORTS
FOREST LOBBY

The IWA recently participated in what
was without doubt one of the most widely
supported lobbying efforts ever conducted
in Victoria.

The purpose was generally to urge the
Government to proceed more rapidly in the
crucial business of designating forest land
(only about 1/3 of it has been assigned so
far) and specifically to protest the loss of
good forest land to Land Minister Chabot’s
“hobby-farm give-away” program.

The excellent brief submitted was pre-
pared by the B.C. Professional Foresters
and endorsed by the IWA and the following:

B.C. Federation of Naturalists, B.C.
Wildlife Federation, Canadian Paper-
workers Union, Cariboo Lumber Manufac-
turers Assn., Council of Forest Industries of
B.C., Interior Lumber Manufacturers Assn.,
Northern Interior Lumber Sector, Pulp,
Paper and Woodworkers of Canada, The
Truck Loggers Association, B.C. Federation
of Agriculture, B.C. Cattlemen’s Associa-
tion, B.C. Independent Loggers Assn.

The urgency of protecting forest land
against such encroachments is becoming
apparent to more and more groupsin B.C. —
hopefully, the Provincial Government will
soon join them.

In the meantime, such lobbying efforts as
this one, which received wide-spread media
attention, will have to be increased in fre-
quency and volume.

Below is the concluding paragraph of the
Brief. If IWA members show their support
for this measure vigorously and in large
numbers, we will soon see a turn-around in
B.C. — preservation of Forest Land, com-
mitted to Forestry, and new programs of
planting and silvaculture. Our children and
grandchildren will then have some alterna-
tive to carrying suitcases for Grace McCar-
thy’s tourists.

“Our growing population and the rising
expectations of our citizens, combine to
create a steadily increasing series of
demands on the land base. There are
demands for more fish, wildlife, wilderness,
roads, dams, grazing, as well as demands
for more wood. The sum of these demandsis
now greater than the land’s capacity to meet
them. If only a percentage of the land
alienation applications are approved, the
effect on the forest base would be serious. If
all or a substantial number are approved,
the effect could cause increased timber
shortage and increased landuse conflicts.
That is why we support the Provincial
Forests program and urge that it be com-
pleted without delay.”

“lunderstand it’s a modern side-hill show ...do you have
a chair-lift?”

IWA International president Keith Johnson gives the oath of office to the officers and International executive board members
of the Regional Council January 6, in Vancouver. Group left, Johnson; Earl Foxcroft, alternate International executive board
member; Wyman Trineer, secretary-treasurer; Jack Munro, president; Bob Blanchard, first vice-president; Neil Menard,
second vice-president; Emie Clarke, third vice-president; Doug Evans, International executive board member; Bill

Schumaker, International executive board member.

mm 4

DENTAL
PROGRAMME

On January 1, 1981, the new government
dental program started. Our taxes pay for
the program so there is no monthly cost and
those who are eligible are automatically
covered.

Who is Covered Under the
Government Plan?
e Children 14 and under
e Persons 65 and older (whether or not
they are retired)
You must be covered by the Medical
Services Plan, (Medicare).

What Does the Government
Plan Pay For?

A summary of covered services is as
follows:

Part A — Basic Dentistry

—Diagnostic services (oral exams, X-rays,
etc.)

—Preventive services (cleaning, scaling,
fluoride, etc.)

—Surgical services (extractions, etc.)

—Endodontic services (root canals)

—Periodontal services (gums and bones)

—Restorative services (filling, etc.)

—Denture repairs (repair or reline of
removable dentures)

Part B — Removable Prosthetics

—Dentures (full upper and lower or
partial dentures)

Preventive Care Package

for Children

—Oral exam, cleaning, scaling, and
fluoride

Services Not Covered

—Orthodontics (straightening of teeth)

—Crowns and bridges

—Gold restorative materials

The Government Plan will not pay for
any work started before January 1, 1981.
How Much Is Paid?

The maximum payment during a year is
$700. The plan pays for 50% of insured
services. (Except that the plan will pay the
entire cost once a year of preventive care
package for children). This means that a
covered person must have $1400 worth of
covered dental work donein a year to receive
the maximum benefit of $700.

Note: If you are 65 years or over and you
receive premium assistance from Medical
Services Plan (i.e. your family’s taxable
income for 1980 is $2740 or less), 100% of

your covered dental work will be paid for —

the maximum benefit is still $700.

How Are Payments Made?

Not all dentists have agreed to participate
in the plan. You should be sure to ask your
dentist.

Participating Dentists

—Will bill the Plan directly for your
treatment

—Should collect the remaining share of
costs from our own negotiated dental
plan. (If they don’t you will have to
be sure to get a copy of the completed
claim form).

Non-Participating Dentists

—Must notify you prior to treatment that
they are non-participating. You must
agree in writing to any charges above
the Government Plan’s payment
schedule.

—Will give you two copies of the Dental
Care Plan claim form. You must submit
the original copy to the Government
Plan to be reimbursed for insured ser-
vices and send the other copy to our
own negotiated dental plan for the
remaining share of costs.

You will not be reimbursed by the Plans
for any fees higher than those in the
approved schedules.

Part ‘A’ of our negotiated plan reimburses
covered members for 80% of eligible
expenses. When the Government Plan is
involved (i.e. dependent children 14 or unde:
or members 65 and older), you will receive
payment for 100% of covered expenses.

For example: Assume you have eligible
dental bills amounting to $200.

Government Dental Plan pays $100

IWA negotiated Dental Plan

pays $100

Using the above example, before the
Government Dental Plan started, the WA
plan would have paid $160 and you would
have had to pay $40.

BUNERNENT
ECONINIE NOVISOR,

12/Lumber Worker/January, 1981