Message from the President

Canadians need land-use dispute settling mechanisms

In British Columbia a Task Force on the Environment and Economy has told us that finding new ways to resolve land use dis- putes is fundamental to achieving sustainable development and we all know that if we don’t achieve sustainable development our chil- dren will not have a very good life.

In other parts of the country some mechanisms are emerging to help us resolve deep-rooted land-use conflicts. A new Forest Resources Commission, in British Columbia, does not have conflict resolution within its mandate, nor should it. This might be a disap- pointment to some, but I think it is a good thing. I’m sure that a lot of people would be upset if they thought that a Commission with a forestry mandate were to be the one to resolve all land-use disputes.

Environmental and economic conflicts arise within many spheres and from all directions. For this reason we need, a forum

to discuss and to debate land-use issues.

_ Recently, the B.C. Task Force stated that the Round-Table should recommend processes and mechanisms for the resolution of land-use and other environment- economy conflicts. The Round- Table should consist of individu- als whose wide range of views reflect the full spectrum of envi- ronmental and economic inter- ests . This clearly shows that the Provincial Round-Table must have a broader mandate than the Forest Resources Commission.

Why do we need such an agency? Because the rift between workers and those who think that our traditional way of earning a living is environmentally un- sound is getting too big. Workers are feeling pressured and are being told by various public opin- ion polls that they are not really valued anymore. This is not right. If there was a permanent place where all could go and know that

by Jack Munro

they would be listened to — we might attack the problems instead of each other. Woodwork- ers helped build this country, we can’t allow this government to belittle all the work that has gone into making us who we are. We can’t allow them to turn our friends against us.

Too often IWA workers are misrepresented in the press as being anti-environmentalist or even anti-environment. People of this country should understand. that the members and leadership of the IWA are not that way. Gov- ernments are really good at setting us up against each other and letting us scrap it out. [WA workers have always been environmentalists. For decades we have pressured governments and the forest industry to use our resources in an environmentally sensitive way. When the public hears that IWA workers are anti- this or anti-that they must be reminded that we are faced with the same fears and worries as

other Canadians. On top of being worried about the environment, we worry about our jobs and our children’s futures.

Without a process that all the people of the province can buy into, this rift is only going to get bigger. We all know who will win if that is allowed to happen. The current government will get re-elected and the companies will be happy. Environmental groups and workers will be left with nothing.

Now, I want to be fair about this. I know that a lot of people understand that we have a right to earn a living. They know that we are not the enemy, but because we are all in the same boat of hav- ing no way of knowing when we are going to be listened to, we react against each other instead of at the real problem.

‘We need adequate land-use dis- pute settling mechanisms in all provinces. The mechanisms must have the clout to make the gov- ernment respond.

National officer serves on Strangway Commission

A report submitted to British Columbia’s Minister of Environment Bruce Strachan and Minister of Regional Development Elwood Veitch entitled “Sustaining the Living Land,” makes unanimous recommen-

SAYA

e Roger Stanyer, National Fifth Vice- President.

dation that a government policy of sustainable development must be put in place. The recommendation came from a seven member task force on B.C.’s Environment and Economy

headed by Dr. David Strangway, Pres- ident of the University of British Columbia.

Representing labour on the task force was Roger Stanyer, National Fifth Vice-President and President of Duncan Local 1-80. Appointed in Jan- uary of 1989, Brother Stanyer and his task force colleagues examined more than 200 written briefs from various organizations, businesses, associa- tions, and individuals.

The task force was asked to make recommendations on whether or not the province required a Round Table on the environment and on a conser- vation strategy.

All members agreed that a provin- cial Round Table should be estab- lished to lead in the development of a sustainable development strategy.

The Round Table, according to the Strangway Report, should be perma- nent and act as an advisory board to cabinet. It should consist of individu- als with a wide range of views and who reflect a full spectrum of environ- mental and economic issues.

Brother Stanyer says that the Round Table offers labour a unique opportunity.

“We must have some mechanism to resolve land use disputes and the Round Table should help to establish that mechanism. I think that all par- ties realize that labour is a major

player in environmental and economic issues,” comments Stanyer.

Brother Stanyer also says that sus- tained economic activity must include a healthy forest industry.

“Nothing else in this province is even close in comparison with the forest industry and other major resource industries when it comes to creating meaningful employment.

And that should be recognized by anyone.”

The provincial Round Table, ac- cording to the report, should also foster public “environmental literacy.” As well, it recommends that cabinet committees on Regional Development and Environmental Land Use com- bine into a single Sustainable Devel- opment Committee.

Forest policy expected at National Convention

Asa result of a resolution passed at the 1988 National Convention, [WA- CANADA formed a special forestry environment committee to deal with ongoing issues in the country. The committee, chaired by National Fifth Vice-President Roger Stanyer, is also charged with producing a draft of a new union forest policy.

The IWA has not updated its forest policy since the 1970s, long before the current land use controversies arose. The second forest policy draft is now before the committee and is expected to be completed around convention time.

The Committee is discussing such issues as tenure, forest utilization,

silviculture, and harvesting systems in the new policy. Their recommenda- tions, which may include suggestions on a sustainable forest strategy, will be made to the National Executive

Board.

This October’s National Convention will hear a resolution from Duncan Local 1-80 to hold a special National Forestry Conference in 1990.

The draft forest policy may be amended by the National Executive Board and by Convention action.

Other members of the committee are Bob Freer, Local 1-71; Dave Hag- gard, Local 1-85; Klaus Offermann, Local 1-405; and Fred Miron, Local 1-2693.

a IE 4/LUMBERWORKER/SEPTEMBER, 1989