Mr. Gerard Janssen. MLA
Port Alberni, B.C.

Dear Gerrard:
The following is a resolution compiled and adopted by the Port Alberni Chapter of the Council of Canadians re the subject of applying regulations to presently unregulated privately owned forest land. We send it to you and will send copies to all government agencies and others who we feel can act upon it.
As stated in the resolution, all sorts of regulations apply, and in the public interest should apply, to other classifications of privately owned land. Our chapter firmly believes that regulation of privately owned forestland is equally important to other classifications of privately owned land to protect the public interest.
Our history is replete with examples of how private owners of forest land have damaged the environment, damaged wildlife habitat, defaced the countryside, closed down communities when the timber was exhausted. In many ways they have "ripped off" the country and its people because there were no adequate regulations or controls on their forest practices.
The attached resolution comes at a time when the unregulated private land is growing as a result of the recently announced agreement to turn over thousands of hectares of public land to MacMillan Bloedel and thus expand the area without regulation or controls and reduce the area under regulation. This is the road to disaster for British Columbia.
Our Council urges you and the government of B. C. to reverse this ill considered decision and keep this land in the public domain, while passing legislation to regulate privately owned forest land where it has the authority to do so, and
To join in urging the Federal Government to bring in such regulations in areas where it has the jurisdiction. For far too long we have seen our forestland decimated by private interests and seen the forest industry operate on a cut out and get out basis with the dire results for the forests and the communities so affected.
Regulation of privately owned forest land is a necessity if the public interest is to be protected and the forests are to remain productive and in place for future generations.

Thanking you for your attention we remain,

Yours truly,

Jack Thornburgh, President
Council of Canadians, Port Alberni Chapter.

cc
Mr. Bill Gilmour, MP
Mr. Dave Zirnheld, B.C. Minister of Forests
Mr. Ralph Goodale, Federal Minister of Natural Resources
IWA Local 1-85, Port Alberni, B.C.

All Vancouver Island chapters, Council of Canadians

Regulation of "Privately Owned" Forest Land

WHEREAS:-
Every category of privately owned land, Residential, Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial is subject to regulations through zoning, flood control, building and other forms of legislation where it is deemed to be in the public interest to adopt and enforce such regulations.

AND WHEREAS:-
"Privately owned" forest land, owned in most cases by large forest companies is considered exempt from regulations as to logging methods, disposal of the timber such as export of logs, cants and timber, and to regulations such as the Forest Practices Code which applies to publicly owned land. We deem such regulations on "Privately Owned" forest land to be in the public interest as are other regulations needed to ensure the perpetuation of the forests, protection of wildlife and fish habitat and environmental protection.

AND WHEREAS:-
Regulation of private forestland is just as necessary in the public interest as is building and other regulation on other forms of privately owned land. Unregulated use can and has resulted in damage to other related interests such as fish habitat destruction, wasteful forest practices and lack of forest renewal policies to name only a few examples.

AND WHEREAS:-
The "privately owned" forest land should not be seen as separate from the public interest, as it is still subject to taxation and its use can and does affect other owners and the public interest as well. Regulation of these uses is imperative if the public interest is to be protected.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED- That
The Port Alberni Chapter of the Council of Canadians urgently demands of the Federal and B. C. Provincial Government that they enact legislation to provide for the regulation of "privately owned" forest land.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED- That
In all matters relating to the harvesting and use of such land and in the disposition of the products derived therefrom, the same regulations be applied as those which exist, or may in future be applied to publicly owned forest land.