6 — Friday, September 22, 1989 —- North Shore News TREE FARM LICENCES Hunter column showed ‘little regard for facts’ Dear Editor: In your Aug. 27 edition, colum- nist Bob Hunter showed that he has little regard for facts and a poor understanding of the forest industry. While the column contained many errors, I will only correct a few of the major points, especially those related to our company, Canfor Corporation. Mr. Hunter states that ‘none of these outfits (the four major forest companies in British Columbia) has its headquarters in British Columbia.” Not true. Canfor was founded by the Prentice-Bentley family in 1938. We have grown into a fully- integrated forest products com- pany that continues to be B.C.- '_ « owned, controlled and head- quartered. Mr. Hunter shows a total lack of understanding of Tree Farm Licences, as the Crown does not transfer ownership, but only the responsibility for management of the area. What we have on our two TFLs, in fact, is complete responsibility for professional management of the forest resource for all values. This is done under the direction of the Ministry of Forests which reviews every detail of each TFL’s Management and Working Plan, which is updated annually. Moreover, these plans are open to the public viewing and input prior to approval. In addition to harvesting, road- building and reforestation activi- ties, each plan also details wildlife, recreation, archeological and cul- tural values. I wonder if Mr. Hunter bothered to read a TFL plan or visit a TFL and talk to the foresters before condemning them. i doubt it. I would Sike to invite Mr. Hunter to call us and arrange a tour so he can learn first hand about TFLs before he next puts pen to paper to express his views. Mr. Hunter's careless and unin- formed remarks do a disservice to our company, our hardworking employees, and to your readers. Peter J.G. Bentley Chairman and Chief Executive Of- ficer Canfor Corporation ,C tree farm licences are the ‘best managed’ forest lands in Canada Dear Editor: As a professional forester in- volved in Tree Farm Licence management for 25 ycars, I find it sad that Bob Hunier should allow his preservationist antipathy to the forest industry to overcome any journalistic scruples concerning objectivity. Mr. Hunter’s Aug. 27 ticle is so inaccurate that it belies correc- tion. However, it is unfair to the public that the Tree Farm Licence syStem of forest management waterfront, a city condominium suitable place to live. unknown; exactly where located is unknown; Housing horrors HE ALARM bell rung suddenly over the plight i of low-income residents set adrift hy develop- ment in North Vancouver City has been sounded on admirable principles but unknown data. ; North Vancouver City Ald. Bill Bell this week called attention (o the unsettling case. of several homeless people living in a vermin-infested banker on the city’s Their unfortunate situation he attributed in part to construction resulted in the closure of low-rent fiotel rooms, But while the living conditions of ose in’ the bunker were clearly appalling, the reasons for their continuing to live in such condilions are less clear. Both the Squamish indian Band, members are living in the bunker, an? the developer of the St. Alice Hotel claim to have Giea to find accom- modation for two of the bunker residents. Bul they still returned to the bunker —- their problenis obviously running far deeper than simply being unable to find a Exacily how many city residents are in need of low- income housing as a result of new development is such and exactly which displaced need help beyond simply finding a piace to live is also very much unknown. It is up to the city to find answers to such unknowns as quickly as possible and to come up with real solu- tions before a real tragedy occurs. should be denigrated by this misin- formed bigot. That last Royal Commission of inquiry into the forest industry confirmed that the Tree Farm Licences of British Columbia were the best managed, publicly-owned, forest lands in Canada. And the commissioner, Dr. Peter Pearse, is no “‘lap-dog’’ of the industry. Our Nationa! Forest Policy, en- dorsed by all Canadian provinces in 1987, includes the statement that “Tenure, to the forest industry, boom that has two of whose should be of those housing involves the continued access to the productive capacity of the forest resource.”’ Earlier the policy notes that tenure ...‘‘will remain largely with the Crown.” Tree Farm Licences embody both of these sentiments and the results for British Columbian society have been rewarding. They will continue so to be if the rhetoric of Mr. Hunter and his ilk is not heeded. A. N. Brett-Davies North Vancouver i Publisher . Managing Editor Associate Editor . envelope. Peter Speck . Barrett Fisher . Noel Wright Advertising Director Linda Stewart North Shore News, toundeg in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper and qualified under Schedule 111, Paragraph tll of the Eacise Tax Act, is pudlished each Wednesday, Fuday and Sunday by North Shore Free Press Lid. and distnbuted to every door on the North Shore. Second Class Mad Registration Number 3885. Subscriptions North and West Vancouver, $25 per year. Mailing tates avatabte on request. Submissions are welcome but “i cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited maternal including manuscripts and pictures which should ba accompanied by a stampea, addressed Dear Editor: Mr. Hunter’s Aug. 27 col- umn on the conversion of Forest Licences to Tree Farm Licences contained some incor- fect statements about Western Forest Products that should be set straight. Mr. Hunter states that *«..Western Forest Products managed to wring $150 million in compensation so trees in a new national park could be spared.”’ Western Forest Products has not received any compensation for South Moresby. To date, no offer has been made to the company. The author indicates that sizeable compensation for South Moresby timber is ‘‘out- rageous.’’ This statement ig- nores that whatever compensa- tion is paid should recognize that over 70 per cent of the company’s Queen Charlotte ‘Hunter dislikes corporate Dear Editor: It is apparent that Bob Hunt- er dislikes Tree Farm Licences (North Shore News, Aug. 27). His reasons seem to revolve around his dislike of ‘‘cor- porate biggies.’’ The last Royal Commission on forestry researched forestry performance a great deal more than Hunter. The report stated ‘*..(TFLs, as managed by Licensees and the Forest Ser- NOEL WRIGHT TOsh VEC LG MOST H AND WEAT VAC OUWE SUNDAY + WERNESDAY © FHIDAY 4139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 59,170 (average, Wednesday Friday & Sunday) a SDA DIVISION Fax Forest company not compensated Display Advertising Classified Advertising Newsroom 985-2131 Distribution 986-1337 Subscriptions 986-1337 Tree Farm Licence cutting rights have been confiscated. The company is left with the problem of supplying wood to the plants that it was contrac- tually obligated to build in B.C. to process wood from its Tree Farm Licences. Finally, the author lumps Western Forest Products along with the other non-local ‘‘cor- - porate biggies’’ who have their headquarters, and by implica- tion their interests, outside of British Columbia. Western Forest Products is a B.C.-based forest company with headquarters in Vancouver and all of its operations in Brit- ish Columbia. All of its direc- tors are B.C, residents. R. P. Manning President and Chief Executive Officer Western Forest Limited Products biggies’ vice) have produced the highest standard of forest management in the province — a standard that in many cases is high by in- ternational comparisons as well.”’ Forestry performance and the opportunity to lessen govern- ment expenditures are probably the main reason why the gov- ernment likes TFLs. J. M. Stephen North Vancouver ON VACATION ~ALUNEMpioyuth Pa nila: 980-0511 986-6222 985-3227 MEMBER ————-— meee