Time for a new Forest Minister

BC Minister of Forests and Range Rich Coleman has outraged First Nations, forest workers, surfers and other recreation-interests, local land owners, and environmental advocates with his decision to delete 28,000 ha of land from Tree Farm Licences on Vancouver Island, including treasured sections of land surrounding Sooke Potholes and coastal forest between Sooke and Jordan River. His performance on this and other issues constitutes a betrayal of the public interest.

All those who disagree with Minister Rich Coleman’s oversight of BC’s Forests are invited to join us in asking for his resignation by signing our online petition.

4 Reasons why Coleman must go:

1.Coleman’s TFL Decision Betrayed the Public

Rich Coleman’s decision to grant Western Forest Products their 28,000 hectare Tree Farm Licence deletion was secret and undemocratic, damaging to public recreation, damaging to the environment, damaging to Forest Workers, disrespectful of First Nations, disrespectful of local governments and local planning, and significantly shortchanged BC Taxpayers. Click here to read an overview of the decision and its consequences.

2. Coleman’s Rationale Doesn’t Stand Up

Coleman’s TFL decision was worth tens of millions of dollars to Brookfield Asset Management, the global real-estate giant/parent of Western Forest Products. Ministry of Forests briefing notes and Coleman himself are clear on the corporate benefit – but what about a public benefit? To date, Coleman has not produced a single defensible argument as to how his TFL deletion decision benefits British Columbians.
To read why Coleman's public statements don't make sense, click here.

3. Coleman’s Coastal Forest Action Plan is Misleading and Destructive

More than two years in the making, Coleman’s plan to halt the decline of Vancouver Island’s forest sector amounts to 12 picture-heavy pages. Indeed, the strategies outlined in the plan will only hasten the industry’s decline; it’s bad for forests and bad for jobs. Click here to read more about Coleman's 'log-it-all' Coastal Forest Action Plan.

4. Coleman is the Wrong Person for Forestry Round Table

In response to the economic woes of the forest industry (e.g. high Canadian dollar, slumping US market, low prices) Premier Campbell has announced a new ‘Forestry Round Table’ to guide the industry through this time of permanent change (e.g. climate change, pine beetle). As Minister of Forests, Rich Coleman is the current Chair – this bodes poorly for BC as Coleman’s track-record suggests a tendency to favor the short-term interests of corporations at the long-term expense of BC’s forests and forestry sector. Click here to learn why BC needs a new Forests Minister to lead the Forestry Round Table.

BC’s forests are changing, the forestry industry is changing, but British Columbians deserve better.
It is time for a new Forests Minister.