Industry seen as major issue in election campaign

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By Bryan Tait

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The forestry industry is the backbone of many communities in the St. John River Valley. As a federal election approaches, people are asking what the candidates in the riding of Tobique-Mactaquac are planning to do to restore the industry to its former glory.

Liberal candidate Sally McGrath owns a small woodlot, and knows firsthand how important forestry is to the region.

"Having trees growing is like having money in the bank," she said.

McGrath said the industry in New Brunswick is beginning to diversify, but there's room for improvement.

"We're using wood to create other products," she said. "We need to start looking at other uses for wood."

She used the examples of the AV Nackawic mill, which is moving towards production dissolving grade pulp as opposed to paper pulp. The pulp is shipped to India to produce rayon, a material used in clothing manufacturing.

McGrath said a strong forestry industry also plays a role in the Liberal Green Shift.

"It's important for the environment," she said. "Trees are carbon consumers."

Green candidate Mark Glass said the forestry industry has to be sustainable.

"There's great pressure to cut more and more," he said. "But the trees don't grow back right away."

Glass said it's important for woodlot owners to replant, especially the private owners.

"They have no obligation to replant," he said. "We have to ask ourselves if we've got enough to support the industry in the future."

He added that it's important for people to realize that replanting not only sustains the industry, it helps the environment as well.

"We have to ask if we're willing to pay owners because this is good for the environment."

Glass also said it's important to not only replant, but to properly maintain the new trees.

"If it's left to grow naturally, it becomes a mess."

NDP candidate Alice Finnamore said her party is highly committed to helping the forestry industry.

"We want to create a billion-dollar emergency fund for one-sector towns," Finnamore said.

The NDP also supported a Nov. 2007 motion that would have put $50 billion towards a review of unfair trade practices, improving support programs for forestry workers, and creating diversification programs for regions where forestry is the main industry.

That motion was defeated in the House of Commons, and the money was spent on corporate tax cuts.

"We've led calls for the government to sit down with the industry," Finnamore said.

She said the Liberals rubber stamped the rejection of the motion by abstaining from the vote.

The NDP have also called on the United States to respect the NAFTA rules on lumber tariffs.

Conservative incumbent Mike Allen said his party voted the motion down because many of the programs in the motion had already been implemented by the Conservative government.

"We announced funding for worker training programs," Allen said. "We'll work with the province to get these programs up and running."

Allen said he was also proud of a report on the forestry industry that came out of the Commons committee on natural resources.

The report addressed issues facing the forestry industry, including rising energy costs.

"That's one of the key success factors," Allen said. "We'll look into investing a significant amount of money to create alternative energy sources."

Finnamore said the Tories haven't done enough.

"Stephen Harper cancelled the public hearings on the softwood lumber deal," she said.

Instead, the NDP held its own public ‘hearings' across Canada.

The forestry industry will continue to play a significant role in the campaign, particularly in Tobique-Mactaquac. Just how significant won't be known until the polls close on Oct. 14.