Employment and community impacts
The following concerns are raised in individual submissions:
• the Socio-Economic Assessment provided good baseline information, but the relationship between wood volume and jobs is too simplistic
• current harvest levels are creating a dependency on unsustainable royalties and employment within the province
• the Socio-Economic Assessment lacked a reference to the past and future effects technology has on forest industry jobs per cubic metre
• if the major forest license holders are given the bulk of the apportionment, employment will decrease because their operations are less labour-intensive. If more labour-intensive and environmentally sound harvesting techniques were used, employment could increase with a decreased allowable annual cut
• the fact that only 34 per cent of the total employment generated by the allowable annual cut occurs within the North Coast Timber Supply Area is described as shocking. The respondent suggests however, that only a specialized, value-added mill, such as one that utilizes cypress, can compete in Prince Rupert
• communities outside the North Coast Timber Supply Area will be affected by changes in timber supply in the North Coast. In addition, the pulpmill in Prince Rupert will be affected to a great extent by decisions in other timber supply areas
• Forest Renewal B.C. will benefit the North Coast Timber Supply Area bycreating employment and through its plan to enhance timber supply
Environmental impacts
The Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks is concerned that an elevated harvest scenario will limit options for protecting
riparian areas and certain old growth valley bottom habitats.
First Nations
One respondent questions the accuracy of the socio-economic assessment, citing three errors:
• the Kitamaat Village Council itself did not communicate its concerns
• Kitamaat Village is not heavily dependent on the forest industry
• the five eulachon-producing rivers are in the Kalum Forest District, not the North Coast
