“MARCH, 1975 > ~...THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER V1 PAISH REPORT SLANTED: PUBLIC HEARINGS SCORED The report reads, ‘‘Tsitika- Schoen Resources Study, By North Island Study Group, Co- ordinated by Howard Paish’’, but perhaps the ‘‘Coordinated by”’ is not really necessary, for in fact the report was written by Howard Paish and some of the North Island Study Group didn’t even see the report until after it had been released to the public. Right from the start of the Public Hearings during the first two weeks of March it was obvious that the Paish Report was a slanted, incomplete document, which was designed to convince the Environment and Land Use Committee of the Provincial Government that the Moratorium placed on the three hundred and ten thousand odd acres some two years ago should be made permanent and logging in the area prohibited. The Moratorium area is located on the Northern end of Vancouver Island and contains the Tsitika Water Shed and the Schoen Lake area. It is without doubt one of the most beautiful areas on Vancouver Island. At the same time however, there are at least two communities that are totally dependent on the logging operations within the Moratorium area for their very survival, In addition about twelve hundred jobs are at stake both in the logging sector and in the manufactur- ing plants on Southern Van- couver Island and the Lower Mainland. Does Howard Paish take this into consideration in his report? It would be very hard not to, but he does not put as much stress on the lives of two communities and twelve hundred people as he does on the preservation of the area. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the area does con- tain some prime recreational | area as well as sections that are necessary for the con- tinued well being of the fish and wildlife in the area. It is also generally conceded that the area does hold some very valuable acreage as far as scientific study is concerned. But it also contains a lot of prime timber. There is no doubt that this area could be used by all the people of the province for all manner of activity logged. However, it is obvious that Howard Paish does not see it that way. The forest companies in- volved, MacMillan Bloedel, Canadian Forest Products, and Rayonier have all expanded operations in various locations to handle the timber which was to be cut in the area. Through long term planning they have not yet had to move their ations heavily into the um but this is now a - Juxury they cannot afford. Either they are permitted to do some logging or they will have to start to curtail operations which will mean the loss of and still be - resources use plan. This fact is laid out in the report and the public meetings by Paish as a negative and extreme position. The report and the Public Meetings have been nothing more than a forum for Mr. Paish to present his views on what should be done for the area. The Public - Meetings smacked of a “‘set up’, even before the comanies or in- terested individuals had an opportunity to present their positions on the question, A set - of ‘‘motherhood slides”, that make one weep if the thought of logging the area were even being entertained, were shown at all but one of the meetings. Comments by Mr. Paish that the audience would hear a lot of ‘‘negative’’ comment from the companies made for a very disgusting show and wasted a lot of people’s time and energy. It is obvious that Mr. Paish realized that the public opinion regarding the report would be negative in Port McNeil and ° Sayward, sites for the first two Public Hearings, so he made sure meetings would be held in Campbell River where the En- vironmentalists could back up his position. If that was not enough the meeting in Nanaimo would surely do the trick. How naive does Mr. Paish think people are? They may only be loggers but they sure realize when their jobs are at stake and the future of their community and homes are on the line and. they told him just that. It now rests with the Envir- onmental and Land Use Com- mittee to decide what will be done with the Tsitika - Schoen area. If they listen to Howard Paish it. will spell disaster for the communities of Sayward and Port McNeil. It will mean the loss of jobs for people as far away as the Lower Mainland. If they listen to the people of Sayward and Port McNeil, the forest companies and the IWA, they will make intelligent plans for the area that will allow for the maximum use by all interested groups and in- dividuals. Hopefully this will .be their decision. NOTE: Howard Paish is a consultant hired by the Pro- vincial Government to coordi- nate studies done by civil ser- vants from various govern- ment departments. It is the IWA’s opinion that the govern- ment should watch very closely who they hire in the future to do such important work. Certainly there must be people around who can ap- proach a job objectively and keep personal opinion to a minimum. The budget for the fiscal year 1975-76 presented by Premier Dave Barrett to the Legislature. increases the social services introduced by the NDP since 1972 and will provide increased job security through economic and agricul- ture expansion. Following are the highlights: e No increase in personal income tax or sales tax. © Corporate income tax adjusted to lower provincial tax to 10% for small business and increase to 13% on large corporations. , e Increased budgets for health, education and human resources with expansion of post-secondary education pro- grams, mincome, phar- macare, increased ambulance services and cancer detection and treatment facilities. © Continued and expanded income assurance programs for B.C. farmers. © $15 million for employ- ment in lumber industry. © $20 million student em- ployment program. © Additional $15 million to recreational community facilities act. © $20 million for capital expenditure on ferries. @ Increase of 2 cents per gallon upon gasoline: tax rate still lower than all provinces except Alberta and Saskat- chewan: Portion of added revenue will be used to cover public transit expenses. e Natural gas revenues to be shared with municipalities as export price rises over $1 per 1,000 cu. feet. © Per capita grants to municipalities will be adjusted to account for population changes since 1971. © School tax will be further reduced — 40% of school taxes over the $200 homeowner grant will be paid by the provincial government up to $80. e Renter tax credit program with assistance geared to income level. © Renters over 65 will be eligible for up to $160 grant. ©. New $5 million program to aid third world nations suf- fering from disaster and food shortages. L = idea of bringing a ladder to the party?”’ : Second Logger: ‘I heard the drinks are to be on the house!” that a logger in town was so generous to his girl friend that he finally had to marry her for his money. A father says he’s sick and tired of arguing with his son over borrowing the car. ‘“‘Next time I want it,’’ he says, “I’m just going to take it.” ...and other pressures towards compromising on second-best, Dayton’s makes no contribution. % That is why Dayton’s loggers have won more world championships than any other boot ever made. *% - It has always been, and still is, the choice of the man who knows the best—and is prepared to pay for it. DAYTON SHOE MANUFACTURING CO. LTD. 2250 EAST HASTINGS STREET TELEPHONE 253-6671 VANCOUVER, B.C.