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GUEST EDITORIAL "Softwood
lumber trade dispute leaving its mark on Alberta forest industry"
Ed Greenberg Director of Public Affairs, Alberta Forest Products Association Since 1942, the Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA) has been the voice of lumber, pulp and paper, panelboard, and secondary manufacturers in Alberta. For the past 61 years, the industry has gone through many changes – from horses and cross cut saws to high tech scanners and computer lasers and robotics. Our membership forms one of the province’s largest manufacturing sectors, providing employment for more than 50,000 Albertans and generating billions of dollars in revenues. Each year, AFPA members ship lumber, pulp and paper, panelboard, and secondary manufactured products valued at up to $4 billion. Over the years, an issue that has never been too far away in one form or another, has been the long-standing dispute between Canada and the United States involving the shipment of our country’s softwood lumber to U.S. consumers. It’s an issue that we believe has more to do with politics than cross-border trade concerns. Despite the financial turmoil this dispute has caused, the forest industry in Alberta has remained resilient and committed to remaining competitive in a very demanding marketplace. In the latest chapter in this lengthy on-again, off-again trade dispute, the 27.2 percent softwood lumber duties are having a very real impact on the companies and employees that make up the Alberta forest industry, which has been losing about $500,000 a day in duties. The bottom line is that the softwood lumber duties have already cost our industry about $135 million since last May and if left in place will continue to punish the province’s third-largest industry. Overall, our industry is weathering the softwood storm with member companies doing everything possible to stay competitive and avoid major layoffs. This includes such steps as identifying increased cost efficiencies in their operations, extended maintenance shutdowns, finding alternative markets and in some cases increasing production to reduce per unit costs. Still, the reality is that our industry can only withstand so much financial pain and there have been casualties. Over the last few months about 200 forestry workers have lost their jobs in the province – about a 100 since January. One company, situated in a village of about 240 people, has gone bankrupt throwing more than 40 people out of work. There is concern the job loss number is just the tip of the iceberg in our province. The latest figure is only reported worker casualties — not included are job losses that haven’t been reported, previously vacant positions that haven’t been filled or expansion plans that have been put on hold. Now, for some, the layoff number in Alberta doesn’t sound that severe, but we say one cannot downplay the impacts on any workers and their families who have been affected by this dispute. They are innocent victims in a high-powered political dispute that is hurting people on both sides of the border. Of course, we are hoping there are no more layoffs to report to Albertans, but the potential for more job losses exists as long as the duties are punishing forest companies in this province. This means more uncertainties for the dozens of Alberta communities that rely on the forest sector for economic stability. It is not just from direct employment, but also from support services like logging companies, tree planters and local coffee shops that depend on our industry for work and local business. So, any job loss in a small community hurts. Recently, despite some hopeful signals that there was a chance for a resolution to this serious matter, talks between Canada and the United States broke off in Washington D.C. without any short-term or long-term solution in place. Of course, the Alberta industry was disappointed, because we went to Washington determined to end this punishing dispute. However, we recognized these talks were yet another step in the process to find a workable solution to a very complex issue. So, it is still our industry’s hope that reason will prevail and we’ll get back to talks as soon as possible. In general, the Alberta industry remains cautious. We are committed to a durable long-term negotiated settlement under a Team Canada approach – but not at all costs. This means a unified front among lumber producing provinces and both levels of government. We believe a solution can still be reached, but there needs to be flexibility by the U.S. that recognizes the fundamental elements of our public land system in our province, which serve as a foundation for the security of our communities and the preservation of forest stewardship in the province. Until a workable agreement is in place, our forest industry will continue to grind it out by finding whatever efficiencies in the system it can to remain competitive. This means Alberta forest companies will continue to review the ongoing impacts of the 27.2 per cent softwood duties as they go into the spring. Each company will be determining how extensive the duties’ costs have hit their medium and long-term business plans and what this means to their bottoms lines. Despite the many challenges, the Alberta Forest Products Association
remains optimistic about the future of our industry in Alberta. Alberta’s
forest industry is very entrepreneurial with efficient and environmentally
friendly operations and a healthy forest. We will continue to respond and
adapt to any challenges brought on by softwood lumber impacts to stay competitive
and to remain a strong contributor for Alberta’s economy.
Ed Greenberg is the Director of Public Affairs for the Alberta Forest Products Association in Edmonton, Alberta. He can be reached at (780) 452-2841 ext. 240 Back to top |
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Marilynne Green Timberline, Athabasca
Wildland/Urban Interface has become a growing concern as the lack of moisture and drought prevails. With drier seasons and an increase in the number and intensity of wildfires, many frightened home owners have fled their homes during emergency evacuations. With the extensive media coverage of wildfires that have threatened rural communities and the destructive capabilities of a wildfire to developments, public awareness is at an all time high. Through Wildland/Urban Interface planning and the “Fire-Smart” program, the hazards to rural developments in a wildland setting can be reduced. The completion of the “County of Athabasca No. 12 Wildland/Urban Interface Plan 2002” created for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD) involved assessing structures, infrastructure, sites and forested areas of 15 Communities within the mutual aid agreement area of ASRD and the County of Athabasca. These Communities are within developments of Crooked Lake, Island Lake, Baptiste Lake, Narrow Lake, Long Lake, and the Hamlets of Wandering River and Breynat. Throughout the study areas, 267 sites were assessed, the results compiled, legislative documents studied, and recommendations presented in the “County of Athabasca No. 12 Wildland/Urban Interface Plan 2002”. Digital ortho photos were provided by the County of Athabasca in order
to stratify the forest fuels in and around the communities within the study
areas. The stratifications of the vegetation types were completed
for a six-mile radius around each study area. From the stratified
fuel types on the digital ortho photos, each vegetation type was classified
according to the Fire Behavior Prediction (FBP) system. This allowed
for a classification of each fuel type by the predicted wildfire intensity
for the fuel type. The Wildland/Urban Interface Assessments address 16 factors; 11 of the factors consider buildings and the area immediately against the buildings to a 10 m radius for the Structure and Site Hazard Assessment (priority zone 1), the remaining 5 factors are considered for 10 m to 30 m beyond the structure for the Area Hazard Assessment (priority zone 2). Vegetation Plots are also assessed beyond 30 m of structures and Communities (priority zone 3). Along with the assessments, in order to clarify any recommendations that would contribute to the mitigation of the risks to the communities, photos were taken of both positive and negative aspects of risk examples. Multiple factors contribute to the risk of wildland fires to structures and structural fires to wildland. These factors depend on the combustibility of structural materials such as; roofing and siding, and vegetative fuels which surround structures and developments. The landscape, the location of outbuildings, fuel caches and the condition of decks, balconies and porches all contribute to a fire’s ability to spread. Access route design, utilities, and location of water sources were also
considered. It is imperative that right-of-ways and turnarounds supportthe
needs of emergency vehicles and the public in an emergency situation. An assessment was completed on the fire history of the areas from 1981-2000 in order to determine the frequency of fires within an area, and whether the fires were lightning-caused or human-caused. The majority of the fires were started by humans and in a few instances by local residents. With these results a conclusion was made that there is a need for public education. The final reports contained the conclusions, example photos, compiled assessments, compiled vegetation plots and numerous types of maps. The map types included were: study area, Community site specific, fire history, fire hazard, FBP fuel, and Development specific recommendations. These maps were developed using the digital site plans, digital ortho photos, compiled assessments and plots, and the fire hazard and FBP coverages that were created. Wildland/Urban Interface Plans allow for an unbiased assessment of the Communities, which provide local officials with a working document identifying what resources are required and where resources should be allocated, as the resources become available, to reduce the threat of wildfire to the Communities. With the use of these Wildland/Urban Interface Plans, Communities are made aware of “Fire-Smart” practices for now and the future, plus the potential risk to their Communities. For more information on Wildland/Urban Interface Plans, please contact Cary Gulka – Timberline, Athabasca. |
Utilities
should be clear of threatening vegetation either from below or above.
Also, the location and accessibility of water supply for fire suppression
purposes could affect the survival of structures.
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