More Crown wood for N.B. forestry sector

FREDERICTON – The New Brunswick government is increasing the amount of Crown wood the forestry sector can take under the province’s new forestry strategy.

An additional 660,000 cubic metres of softwood will be harvested from Crown land, which the province said will mean 500 permanent jobs in the private-sector and 1,200 construction jobs.

It was a highly anticipated announcement after years of loss within the province’s forestry sector.

“The larger problem is that our mills and our products are less competitive than those whom we compete with,” said Premier David Alward at the news conference.

In 2004,  there were 77 mills in New Brunswick, which sustained about 28,000 direct and indirect jobs and was worth eleven per cent of the provincial economy.

Today there’s fewer than 40 mills, with 22,000 jobs and the sector is now worth less than five per cent.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: In 2004,  there were 77 mills in New Brunswick, which sustained about 28,000 direct and indirect jobs and was worth eleven per cent of the provincial economy.</p><p>Today there's fewer than 40 mills, with 22,000 jobs and the sector is now worth less than five per cent.

Natural Resources Minister Paul Robichaud also promised to invest $1 million to sustain the strategy and increase protected natural areas from four to eight per cent.

With the 660,000 additional timber total objective will reach 3.9 million cubic metres of spruce and fir from Crown lands. First Nations will be given an additional 30,000 cubic metres of the softwood fibre.

Private wood lot owners will also be positively impacted by the plan, said Robichaud. But the Federation of New Brunswick Woodlot Owners said they’re unsure what that impact will be.

“The big part of the announcement was more Crown wood,” said Ken Hardie. “And the track record is there that any time industry has access to more Crown wood, we get shut out in the woodlot sector.”

J.D. Irving Ltd. plans to announce three major capital investments at its forest product operations, including one at their pulp and paper mill in Saint John on Thursday. Jim Irving called the strategy “positive.”

“There’s no question we have to look after the environment.  There’s no question no compromise,” said Irving. “But after that let’s make the economy go in this province.”

There was plenty of criticism about what this means for the environment.

“Here we have a 21 per cent increase being given to Irving and the other large companies on crown land? That’s just rape,” said David Coon, leader of New Brunswick’s Green Party.