Dan Albas MP
  • Home
  • MP Report
  • About Dan
  • What Seniors Need To Know
  • Contact
  • Constituency Services
  • Dan in Ottawa
  • Disclosure
  • Videos
  • Home
  • MP Report
  • About Dan
  • What Seniors Need To Know
  • Contact
  • Constituency Services
  • Dan in Ottawa
  • Disclosure
  • Videos

MP Report

MP Report

7/8/2013

1 Comment

 
Although Forestry falls under Provincial jurisdiction it is important to recognize the importance of this industry to all levels of Government that also includes communities, local economies and the many working families who are supported directly and indirectly by forest sector jobs. In Okanagan-Coquihalla,  communities such as Merritt, Logan Lake and Okanagan Falls have long had direct ties with the forest sector while many important industry related support businesses  are located in Penticton and West Kelowna/ Westbank. For many years,  Canada’s largest trading partner has been the United States and with the American housing construction boom slowing down, this in turn has reduced export demand and has resulted in mill closures as we witnessed locally at Okanagan Falls. To further challenge the British Columbia forest industry, the pine beetle devastation has also reduced  the available timber supply and recent mill tragedies have dramatically increased insurance costs for those mills still operating. In summary, there are a number of challenges within this industry as critics are generally quick to point out. However while it is often easy to criticize, it is also important to recognize efforts underway to help support the forest industry.

Free trade agreements, although often opposed by some, open up new markets that British Columbia lumber manufacturers can access and this in turn, can help keep mills open and people working. As an example of this, BC lumber exports to China exceeded $1 billion in revenue for the first time in history in 2011. Exports to Japan have had  similar success and more recently a wood export guide to India has been prepared for manufacturers. The need to diversify Canada’s trading partners is  a top priority for the Canadian forest industry as it is in many other industries. However it s also important that innovation is not overlooked as another means to diversify and increase demand for our local value - added lumber producers.

This week I was excited to attend an important event as Structural Wood Products announced an expansion of the recently opened Okanagan Falls production facility. This new expansion will allow for the construction of the new “Eco Structure Wall System” that consists of pre-fabricated engineered wooden wall structures made using the technology of the cross laminated construction method. These walls are intended to be an alternative to conventional concrete “tilt-up” wall construction with the advantage of being lighter, stronger and also offering improved insulation qualities while being more energy efficient to produce and transport. For Structurlam, a company with 50 years of expertise and over 150 employees this is an investment that has a very bright future.

In Whitecourt Alberta, Millar Western Forest Products is introducing an anaerobic hybrid digester that will convert pulp mill effluent to green energy. This waste to green energy technology has the potential to be used in other mills to help reduce waste and lower long term energy costs. In Meadow Lake Saskatchewan, the local Tolko Mill will soon become the first in North America to produce specialty orientated strand board products on a single production with enhanced quality controls.

These innovations are a few examples of Natural Resources Canada partnership projects under the Investment in Forest Industry Transformation  Program . Although challenges in the forest industry remain, the need to proactively expand and diversify our value - added forestry  sector are essential objectives that help support local economies and help create new and support existing jobs. While we as a country continue to lead the G-7 in job creation and overall fiscal management it is also important to recognize this success does not happen by accident. Through partnerships between industry and all levels of Government working proactively together to open new trade markets or increase innovation we can and will succeed.

1 Comment
Donna Rae
5/26/2021 02:42:56 pm

Why does the post office building in Merritt look like it's falling apart?

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to the MP Report

    Sign up now to get Dan's weekly MP report emailed directly to you! 
    OR
    Sign up now to get a monthly MP Report mailed directly to your home.
    Subscribe Here

    Author

    Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament  for the riding of Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.
    ​
    Communicating with his constituents is one of his top priorities. Dan writes a new MP Report each week.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

​Dan Albas is the proud Member of Parliament for 
Central Okanagan – Similkameen – Nicola
Subscribe to Dan's MP Report
Contact Dan
Photos used under Creative Commons from comedy_nose, bulliver, FutUndBeidl, scazon, Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee, Chris Lancaster, Jamie In Bytown, mikecogh, couloir