The man who saved jobs is losing his own this week By JEFF NAGEL THE MAN who helped save hundreds of forest in- dustry jobs in the north- west is losing his. Eric van Soeren, B.C.’s Job Protection Commissio- ner, joins the growing ranks of the province’s laid-off civil servants this week, His own job was one of the few he could not pro- tect, his work deemed contrary to the doctrine of the new Liberal govern- ment. The province has deci- ded one of the commis- sion’s key tools — the abi- lity to forgive payments by a troubled company to the Crown - amounts to an un- fair business subsidy and eliminated it. “1 think the province is going to move out of the business of helping indi- vidual businesses restruc- ture,” van Soeren said, The move eliminates about six jobs, saving more than $500,000 per year, The commission was by definition interventionist, working to aid troubled companies rather than let them go bankrupt. In Liberal eyes, Van Soeren’s office was an NDP creation that, by un- ° fairly propping up ailing firms, hindered healthier competitors. But to loggers in north- west B.C,. van Soeren was their favourite anti-bureau- crat, imbued with red-tape cutting super-powers, His office was given a broad mandate ta chop through government regu- lations, and push through changes to rules when it could save jobs. Here in the northwest, he ‘had plenty of work try- ing to bridge forest apera- tions over the lowest point in pulp and timber mar- kets. ' The commission worked... with every major forest company in the northwest in recent years. It’ was central to the 1997-98 restructuring of Skeena Cellulose, spear- headed a program to pro- vide bridging Forest Rene- wal B.C. loans to more than 200 SCI contractors and suppliers, and worked on three economic plans aiding West Fraser’s northwest operations. The last of these was probably the most radical and dramatic, because it pioneered the concept that Victoria could apprave li- mited-raw log exports to the point where it made logging viable and kept workers in the bush. Alm-Wood Contracting is one of several West Fraser contractors opera- ting today because of in- dependent logging agree- ments crafted with the help of van Soeren. Co-owner Rob Wood says all 50 workers with the firm have kept their jobs as a result. “His group was noted for being able to cut to the chase, deal with government and get parties toge- ther to keep people working.” “We wouldn’t have log- ged for the last three years if we didn’t have it,” he Let us send your old eyeglasses to the developing world. OPERATION — gh BRESIGHT UNIVERSAL “1-800-585-8265 Charitable Registration “a E1v0re Neos RR OGL said. “At the end of the day we managed to keep our employees working, and all the people and suppliers down the line.” Wood says van Soeren deserves considerable cre- dit, “His group was noted for being able to cut to the chase, deal with govern- ment and get parties toge- ther to keep people working,” Wood said. “The government gave him pretty strong power to . make things happen,” The West Fraser agree- ment was duplicated for several other smaller com- panies in the northwest. The job protection of- fice claims to have saved 25,000 jobs through formal economic plans since its 1991 inception and helped maintain 55,000 through other less formal aid to companies. Van Soeren argues the work was justified and re- jects the idea he dispensed business subsidies. Most of the commis- sion’s work involved medi- ation between a troubled firm and others to reach agreements that would keep employees working. Besides protecting jobs, he said, companies that keep running actually put more money into govern- ment coffers. “Revenue to the Crown dramatically increased be- cause there was much more harvesting and pro- cessing that otherwise wouldn’t have happened,” he said. Terrace mayor Jack Talstra said the office was needed and says he doubts the government will be able to stick to a rigid po- licy of no subsidies for bu- siness. “It’s reality,” Talstra said. “When Canada 3000 says they’re brake - I don’t care what politics you’ve got - the government of the day is going to sit down and think about it. They have to.” “At some point it will mean a subsidy if the si- tuation is grave enough.” The Terrace Standard, Wednescy February 27, 2002 - A7 With Winning Points, you can eat what everyone else is eating, So you can stay satisfied, stick with the plan, and reach your goals. Join now and get “Today's Special,” our new guide to satisfying meal and snack pe : 4 ideas, FREE! SARAH, DUCHESS: T-WEIGHT-GOAL SINEE 1997, . JOIN NOW FOR 1/2 PRICE AND SAVE $22 CALL 1-800-682-8011 Knox United Church (Terrace) 4907 Lazelle - Tuesday 7:00 pm realfood.reallife.real results. 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