BC Considering Imposing Export Duties On Raw Logs - Vancouver Sun

[hatrack]

"Victoria is considering cracking down on raw log exporters to cope with record off-shore shipments of second-growth logs.

Despite strong lumber markets, log exports remain at a high-enough level to undermine the recovery of the coastal forest industry and skew bidding for timber under Victoria's new market-pricing system, say some industry leaders.

B.C. Forests Minister Mike de Jong has asked a ministerial advisory committee to look into the issue, and as a result the province is believed to be considering a flat export tax of $10-$15 a cubic metre, effective Sept. 1.

EDIT

Forest-dependent communities and forestry workers say the level of exports is a huge concern to them. They equate log exports to exporting jobs. As more logs are exported, that means fewer processing jobs for B.C. millworkers. On Vancouver Island, the log export issue has sparked road blockades as laid-off workers have tried to halt truckloads of timber passing through their communities."

EDIT

[DrWeird]

1. Does this have anything to do...

with the tomato scandal?

[bemildred]

2. Exporting logs == Exporting jobs.

Process the logs and export the finished timber and you
create thousands of local jobs and improve your export numbers
by moving higher in the economic food chain.

[treepig]

3. it's kinda a no-brainer to limit raw log exports

but i heard that that was counter to trade agreements (nafta, wto, etc) and therefore couldn't be done. oh well, suppose the canadians can take a cue from mr. dubya and not be concerned with trivialities such as international agreements.

[blindpig]

4. another good reason to dump wto & nafta

which are bad for the environment and workers worldwide.Let's get the foxes out of the henhouse. Trade should be done on a bilateral basis to protect the interests of the nations involved. It is absurd that any nation should have to surrender it's natural resources(cut rate at that)for the benefit of international corprations.