Letter to the editor -
Dear Editor:
Since 2003, I have been a member of Corner Brook Pulp and Paper (CBPPL), Public Advisory Committee. This committee was put in place to obtain a sustainable forest management certificate, so that they would have an advantage in the market place because most people of the world are starting to think green and therefore would buy products that are produced by sustainable harvesting.
I became involved in this committee because I have seen some destructive forest practices taking place in this province, and we were heading for disaster in the forest industry.
The other reason is, that I am one of the lucky Newfoundlanders, I have most of my family living around me and as long as there are jobs they will stay. I also want to leave for my grandchildren, what my grandfather left for me.
We have two main industries in Newfoundland and Labrador that we came here for, fishery and forestry. Both renewable, and will continue to provide for us forever, but only if we manage it properly something we haven't done in the past.
This committee is made up of approximately 20 very dedicated members - some as far away as Roddiction on the Northern Peninsula and Hare Bay in the east. These are people that completely volunteer their time for free because they believe that it's very important to manage our forest wisely and also to help the mill in Corner Brook survive.
Since the creation of this committee there have been great changes to the way that our forests are being harvested and managed and I feel very proud to have been part of the process.
CBPPL, like all paper mills, have been going through a very difficult time these last couple of years. I am glad to see that the union is working with the company on a plan to keep this mill open. The mill in Corner Brook, since 1925, has provided a lot of employment in this province, and when in trouble, I think the people that have made a good living should give a little so that this mill can continue to provide jobs for our people.
One of the things that CBPPL is doing now to cut down on cost is converting from bunker C oil, which is very costly, to using scrap wood from the cutovers as a hog fuel to use in the production of paper and the heating of the mill. This is a renewable source of energy and is good for the environment. It is also providing jobs to the people that are harvesting this scrap wood and the truckers that are doing the hauling. Also with a cleaner cutover, it is better for the berries, such as raspberry, blueberry and partridgeberry, that grow on the cutovers for the first few years, as well as the young trees that come back will have a better chance of survival.
In my opinion, the forest industry is not doing a perfect job, but at least it's a big improvement from the past.
Any comments in this article are my own opinion and should not reflect on any other committee member.
(Retired) Capt Wilfred Bartlett
Brighton, NL
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