OPINION: Horgan could put Bill 22 on hold until industry concerns have been addressed. He could even make the exercise part of his vaunted collaboration on a vision for the future.
VICTORIA — Earlier this spring, Premier John Horgan wrote the major forest companies in the Interior, inviting them to “collaborate” with the NDP government on a new vision for a troubled industry.
“I am inviting you to come together and establish local coalitions of industry, First Nations, labour and community leaders to engage in collaborative planning across timber-supply areas.” Later that same week, Hogan reiterated the invitation in a speech to the Council of Forest Industries. Again the emphasis on a government “that hears your concerns and takes them very seriously.”
Trust, commitment, goodwill. Those words would resonate with a certain irony in light of what happened six days later. “We now have a forest sector dominated by a handful of major players who can set terms with smaller companies who, in a more competitive market, would be business partners,” declared Donaldson in setting out the rationale as the bill passed the second stage of debate last week. “Our major industry players are world leaders, without a doubt … But the concentrated industry we have does not lend itself well to competitiveness or to innovation.
Companies are obliged to give him 30 days’ advance notice of any changes. He can immediately suspend the company’s rights and review whether the change should be approved.
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