Timber shortage, claims a factor in logging licence FORESTS MINISTER Andrew Petter faces a multitude of choices and a couple of pitfalls when he decides who is going to get a forest feence to cut wood north of Kitwanga. He must consider not only the normal issues of jobs and revenue to the provincial government ex- pected from the licence but also Jand claims. As well, Petter’s decision must rest on the knowledge there isn’t enough wood as it is for existing primary sawmills in the north- west. The licence is far 100,000 cubic metres a year in the Cranberry Timber Supply Area (TSA), the arca known as Tree Farm Licence 51 and held by Westar until it was surrendered to the provincial government two years ago. It's considered crucial to Cged Forest Products, one of the four bidders for the licence, and owned by the Gitwangak band. That’s because the mill doesn’t have a secure source of timber and operates only when small amounts of wood can be found. _ Jeonically, the Cged mill is the one that used to be owned by Westar when it had TPL 51. The other bidder with a mill is Kitwanga Lumber, owned by the Hobenshield family, It’s saying it'll add a shift if granted the licence. The Cranberry Management Corporation is made up of arca resident Jim Mitchell and_part- ners. It’s asked for only 20,000 cubic meters of wood. Bidder number four is Cran- berry Forest Products a grouping of the Gitksan villages of Gitse- quecla, Gilwangak and Gitanyow, Nisga’a Economic Enterprises Inc., the development arm of the Nisga’a based in the Nass Valley and Rayonier Canada, which acts as a contract logger for the Nisga’a in the Nass. It’s this bid which is intriguing because it offers the kind of mix the provincial government secms to be looking for. ; Involved in Cranberry Forest Products are the Gilanyow and the Nisga’a, both of whom claim the area covered by the Cranberry TSA. This is important because il’s News In Brief Walmart says ‘no’ WALMART IS not coming to Terrace, says its Toronto- based spokesman. Despite rumours that the major retailer has bought land in this area, Ed Gould says the - company hasnt studied the northwest and has no plans to do so in the immediate future. The company instead is con- centrating on converting the 122 Woolco stores it bought in Canada catlier this year and in opening new Walmarts in more urban centres, he says, - Retailers in smaller centres across the country worry that the appearance of Walmart storcs will take away their business. Timber jobs undermined FORESTS MINISTER Andrew Petter has charged the Western Canada Wilder- ness Commitiee (WCWC) with undermining efforts to create new forest industry jobs in B.C. © That attack came in the wake of WCWC’s support for ULS,. duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports. The Americans imposed the countervailing duly in March 1992 claiming restrictlons on Canadian fog exports con- stituted a subsidy for Cana- dian timber manufacturers. This claim has since been re- jected by two different pancls. Petter maintained WCWC support for the duty was ef- fectively support for an end to log export restrictions which would | undermine the pro- vince’s forest industry and reduce value-added jobs. government policy to ask natives who have an interest in un- developed Crown land for their opinions when development is proposed. The Cranberry Forest Products bid also contains a promise to give Cged Forest. Products the first crack on wood suitable for the mill. And it suggests the stumpage rate paid to the Crown for that wood be lower than normal. The savings would be passed along to Cged. **The minister can cither make one award, divide the award among bidders or reject all of them,”’ says regional forest ser- vice official Graeme Hynd who is evaluating the bids prior to send- ing them to Petter. The licence is for anly six years alter which time it will come up for open bids once again. That’s a reflection of the shortage of wood when compared to primary sawmilling capacity in the northwest, said Hynd. And its also a sign the province is getting more insistent in ils policy of having licence holders concentrate on value added pro- ducts to gain the most from. the limited supply of wood that’s left. In other words, the province docsn’t want to give a licence to a company that will only con- centrale on primary wood produc- “Tt should make a lot of sense - lo move: toward value. added. There’s more profit and therefore more incentive,” said Hynd. He expects the evaluated bids will be ready to be sent south of a decision the end of this month. There’s no set time in which Petter must make a decision al- though Hynd thinks it will come before the end of the year. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 16, 1994 - AQ The Colour Connection ns / : Desig SAVE NOW! Up to 65% vr Ae 8 Window Blinds Verticals * Horizontals Pleated « Carousel Shades Complete line of Window Coverings & Ceramic Tiles _ “Free Estimates” By Appointment Only 4625 Munthe Ave,, Terracee4 7 ‘i Phone 635-7466 Fax 635-16 999 = CEOS Nh) is zagrre Set a Laura Dent will save $185.40 in one year with all the combined savings of Real Plus. That warks ou! ta three free months of lang distance. Everyone who spends a minimum of $15 a monthon=7 - long distance i is eligible? 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