The submission from the Interior Lumber Manufacturers’ Association maintains the Socio-Economic Analysis fails to recognize the contribution and importance of the forest sector. The following specific points are made:
• the after-tax income attributed to the forest sector is low; it does not include activities such as construction and transportation that are strongly connected to the forest sector
• the contributions to pension, health and insurance plans made by forest sector employees are not included
• the future revenue loss to the provincial government is underestimated because it is based on stumpage rates one-third of current rates
• the future revenue loss to the federal government is not featured as prominently as it should be
• Forest Service employees should be included in estimates of forest sector employment
• employment in incremental silviculture was not included
• it is incorrect to imply that forestry jobs can simply be replaced by other jobs
• the impact of reductions in timber supply in surrounding timber supply areas was not considered
The East Kootenay Environmental Society asserts the relative diversity of the timber supply area economy indicates the dire predictions of social and economic chaos resulting from reductions in timber supply are exaggerated. The goal must not be to maintain employment levels at the expense of forest health. Elevated cut levels will not sustain either employment or the environment. Instead, employment has to be increased by adding value to the timber resource.
