Please Pray for the People of Burns Lake–Particularly the Native Aboriginal People…
What a travesty the mill fire has been on the tight-knit community of Burns Lake.
Many of the native aboriginal people of the area were employed there and will surely suffer as a result of the devastation.
So what does the Premier do? She hikes her high heels up there and stands for some shameless photo-op (I know, I know, why am I shocked) instead of offering some real help, or some specific relief that the infrastructure necessary to rebuild the mill is guaranteed and these folks need not worry.
Instead, the head of the Christy party couldn’t bring herself to go beyond easy sounds bites and empty platitudes.
The people of Burns Lake need action now, but as is so often the case with this government, they don’t care. Premier Christy Clark doesn’t and not one of her Ministers either.
But, where too, are the surrounding Chiefs? Only ever the stalwart Chief of Burns Lake Albert Gerow has made a significant effort and statement. No one else cares? Chief Gerow is, of course, the husband of friend to this blog–and this blogger, former NDP leader Carole James.
Carole has been hitting the airwaves with some extremely sensible comments and suggestions to make the Burns Lake matter better.
Is Christy listening?
I won’t hold my breath.
I have a very good number of readers up in that area and I sincerely hope that the government does well by all of you folks and that your lives are returned to normal as soon as possible.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families–particularly your children.
God bless.
And to my pal Carole and her principled and purposeful hubby Al, my very best. Hang in there.
My friends, do not forget the honourable people of Burns Lake. The media are already switching the channel.
I agree that the govt should be looking at re-building the mill. It is a one industry town and if they don’t re-open then the economy of the area will suffer and business will close also. I would rather see the mill re-built than over half the population recieving a welfare check every month. People in Vancouver must remember this is a one industry town and if the mill isn’t re-built there will be no work for anybody. In Vancouver if your mill burns down you just go apply at another mill or change industries – that is not an option for the people of Burns Lake. And for many people moving is not an option because of mortgages etc. I hope something is done for these people.
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Precisely right. I couldn’t agree more.
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Alex,I worked for many years in a Sawmill, The nature of the wok is and can be very Dangerous.But I was lucky, I worked in a Union shop, with a very good Safety Committee and a employer who was committed to a safe working environment. I would suspect that this was a nonunion shop, who cared more about production than its people. But I think that our Christy should seek a career in acting or the theater because if you did not know better you would think that she really cared, when if fact she could give a shit about the hardships these people face. Her biggest concern is that keep those F#*king cameras rolling. What a farce,and a crying shame. Here is hoping your Dad and Family are well, Cheers
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All’s well thus far, thank you. Best to you too!
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Bruce, I worked at BFP for several years (25), moved away in 2002.This has always been a union mill. During that time with previous owners the safety standard was very good. The conditions could have changed since new ownership. I can’t confirm either way.
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Good points, but remember Christy Crunch isn’t the first politician to go an incident location for just a photo op. If you remember the wildfires that swept through the Kamloops area, The Gordomatic together with Kruger were there on continual photo op adventures.
And a Premier Dix will do exactly the same thing, as does PM Harper.
They all do it.
There is no specific identified cause for the explosion, the initial reports stated there was evidence of natural gas in the air.
“Need action NOW!” is a worn out phrase. Stating that “we need action now” is typical as an act, but nothing physically gets done. I’ve run into many instances of people just talking it up and not actually doing something.
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Nobody, and I mean nobody, vogues like Christy…
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Very true.
You haven’t seen some of the politicians I have. Some have been downright patronizing to the level of being nauseating. One was the benifit of a power play that even Brian Burke would envy. One political hack I know was at an event, but spent more time preening and making sure he/she was in the spotlight. He/she got mad because he/she was not mentioned at all.
Christy’s right up there, and belongs on the runway in the vogue competition, but there have been others…
from every party. And bet your box of cigars that the NDP Premier Dix will do exactly the same thing.
Best thing to do now is let the on the ground investigators do what they need to do, find the source, and then migate the solution for future prevention expeditiously, and get that mill rebuilt expeditously.
Swing open the gate, and get that equipment in there.
Let’s get biz-zay!
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Alex, watch out!
If “Crusty Crotch” sees your vogue comment, she’ll really start to think that she’s really Madonna, the material girl!
But I guess it’s too late for that, she already thinks she’s in show business… wonder if she ever asks herself why she didn’t become a real premier instead of a wannabe rock star pretending to be a premier?
“Crusty”, the junior high school play is over… go home!
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“Crusty”, the junior high school play is over… go home!
..and replace her with whom?
Adrian Dix? Mr. Money (Kevin Falcon)? John Cummins (who is a cheap copy of Rev. Lovejoy?)
Sheesh no wonder BC is in such a mess.
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The only one who could rescue this thing remains Dianne Watts but she’s not going to do it. As she’s made clear many times: “Why would I go off and try to clean up the mess those guys have made? They need almost a whole new team. It’s crazy over there.”
Besides, the window is closing.
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Dianne made the best move.You can bet your wallet in Whalley that she did do some homework, and what ever it is that she saw made her wince.
If The Falconator won the leadership, it wouldn’t have been much better. He’s been a real disappointment. The leadership of his
was a disaster waiting to happen. Had good conept, but bad management. Too many out for themselves, and did not like that
proxy voting scheme of his at all ranks right up there with the PIN numbers.
Harrumpf. BC Liberals shoulda went for George Abbott.
The window is closing agree, and wanna know somethin’ else?
So is the heavy steel door on the disaster shelter.
As for Christy Crunch, she missed a big opportunity. An annoucement of government help and assistance to get the mill restarted and supplementaries for the good people up there. A fast track working with contractors to get the mill rebuilt.
In fact for the mill workers there, find a way to get them in on the rebuilding if they have the talent for the tasks needed to do it, or
if they want to learn something new beyond pressing a big green button on a control box or handbombing lumber.
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Dianne Watts – Give me a break.
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If you’re asking for the Mayor of Surrey to provide you with a break, that’s quite an intelligent position. She’s the only politician in the province with enough smarts and credibility to bring a truly balanced, ethical and democratic approach to government.
Like it or not.
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People get real The mill is on Burns Lake Indian Reserve Half owned by the Burns Lake Indian Band.No fire hydrants No water sprinker system No propery tax (Indian Reserve) Why should taxpayer pail out this aboriginal welfare project?
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Because that mill generates jobs for that entire community. One helps where one can and this would be a REAL jobs program the Premier could lay claim to.
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Paul, Yes it’s on reserve land, the rest of what you say is a bit skewed. It is aprox. 11% native owned. at least 4 fire hydrants that I can remember. The fire chief stated they were hooked up to at least 2 hydrants and used the full 300,000 gallon reserve of available water. Sprinkler systems run throughout the plant. I understand some areas were not working. Mostly unknown at this time as to the extent. That is what the investigation will hopefully reveal.
This mill has never been a welfare project.
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Paul, there is an arrangement with the Village of Burns Lake and the mill that paid for municipal things like fire department coverage. I don’t remember the details. It would be something like a land tax.
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Very good! Thank you for clearing that up. I put in a call to a reader from Burns Lake and hadn’t heard back yet.
Much appreciated.
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Alex, if our Premier[not elected] ever had a chance to put money where her mouth is it is in Burns Lake. What an opportunity to show a “real’ move to create and protect jobs in BC. We shall now see how true her concern is.
I won’t hold my breadth however but there should always be hope.
Don
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Complete agreement. Bless you. If she really believed in families first and in demonstrating how she can govern, it wouldn’t have been to simply appear and not have anything more to offer than yet another infernal photo op.
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First of all male no mistake that my heart goes out to the residents of Burns Lake. However the government should not be putting tax dollars to rebuild a private corporation. I realize that corporations have received billions in handouts across this Country…. that doesn’t make it right. With all the so-called expert talent (people that often say they are being sought) sitting around in government, there has to be a better way. The idea put forth by Carol James is an excellent start and rather than throw good money after possibly bad….. let’s start thinking outside the taxpayers wallet. Hell if you’re so valuable in your position…then you better start showing it. Otherwise go….. if so many of you are being scouted elsewhere.
Guy in Victoria
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The govt should be putting money into infrastructure to facilitate the rebuilding of the mill by the corporation.
That’s what ethical govts do.
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The government has collected $$$$$$$$$$$$$ from this mill’s stumpage fees alone. Not to mention the many other revenues Babine Forest Products has influenced since 1975.
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I don’t believe the government could or even should offer to rebuild the mill. As I understand it, the government would violate the software lumber agreement with the USA if it were to rebuild the mill. Now it’s conceivable the government could encourage Hampton Forest Industries to rebuild by offering some other sort of inducement, but the fact remains that the mill operation needs to be viable in order to rebuild.
But I must agree with the other comments regarding the ever nauseating photo op.
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I never suggested they rebuild the mill. But providing incentives and infrastructure to do so is essential. It’s what govts are supposed to do.
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“It’s what govts. are supposed to do”
Exactly. We’re not talking about bailing out greedy, theives like Goldman-Sachs here. Take just a portion of the million dollars they waste in the Dowtown Eastside every day and put some decent people who want to work back to work.
The one time that government intervention would be the right thing to do but………
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Absolutely. It’s like the people who say we should have kept the HST WITHOUT CONCESSIONS because it was more efficient. Really? The bankruptcies and additional suffering would end up on the taxpayer’s end of the dole.
It’s like anything in government. You sacrifice a little now, so that you don’t end up suffering later.
What would it cost to give these fine folks in Burns Lake a hand up? It’d be a once in a lifetime proposition. And with the right plan, they’re back on their feet and producing again, as soon as possible.
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Excellent column,Looks like Christy’s family first plan is all about her immediate family and the job action she proposes centres on her own office. A real leader would realize the impact the devastation of the mill has on the town and all related industry and be working with the owners to rebuild the mill asap.Get the mill employees working to clean up the devastation and be a huge part of the rebuild. You could do it on a job sharing plan with the help of the government. One week of work plus one week of EI.It would benefit the town and go a long way in healing the community.The money is out there all that is needed is the political will.Real leaders lead unfortunately few exist in the Liberal Party.of B.C.
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Indeed, in this case it’s not a question of money, it’s a question of leadership.
Christy has none.
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This type of calamity in a small,tight knit community is doubly devastating.
To have so many in the community injured and killed at a job site that is the major employer in the town is mind numbing. I’m surprised that there isnt emergency (provincial,federal) funds to say retrain or upgrade staff job skills in a quick and timely manner.
WCB (Worksafe by any other eponymous idiotic label) will be on the hook to pay for the injured staff rehabilitation but the other workers need something now. I’m surprised that UNBC or BCIT dont have online training that could be quickly made available to these workers who are on UI ( perhaps a mandatory online classroom tutorial or a industrial arts program where instructors are flown in every 2nd week for hands on training in mobile trailers with all the relevant tools/ machines needed for school?) just to help them break the “one industry town” dilemma.
As brutal as it sounds, jobs are not garunteed where you were born and raised. Every so often people have to move to where the jobs are. Some quick, easy jobskills training would help these unfortunate people through a terrible time and better prepare them for another downturn in the economy.
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It seems that at least once a year we hear of a saw mill burning or a mine closing due to economic factors. A mobile training facility for towns like these would be popular AND give the people there a sense of pride in accomplishing something, We constantly hear the politicians whine that we need to allow more people in from overseas because of a lack of skilled trades. There are shortages of welders, plumbers, electricians, power engineers, etc. EVERYWHERE in Canada.
We now get to see the price that we have paid in the education budget cutbacks of the 80′s and the elimination of apprenticeship programs.
The majority of tradesman that you see today are in their late 40′s. There is a huge void of qualified workers looming in the next 5-10 years and it will get much worse.
If you think a $100/hour plumbers are ridiculous just wait……………
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Exceptional perspective. Cut education; cut the future.
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I’m with nonconfidencevote….problem started long ago with elimination of excellent trades options at the high school level. Van Tech is a prime example. The shops were well equipped and operated as small businesses. Cost and time to do a job were appreciated. The instructors were well respected and became mentors in all areas of life. So many young people may not have the mindset to carry on with university level courses, yet are extremely talented in other areas. This needs to be encouraged as a good living can be made. A living where one adds value. Those that had the mindset could easily combine early shop training with later engineering studies at college or university level. You can’t engineer something if you don’t appreciate how it is built (or repaired). You cannot teach aptitude, but you can recognize it and put a young fellow on the right path. It is not possible to just “retrain” if one does not have the aptitude. These workers knew their job and hopefully they will get the chance to continue working in their area of expertise.
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Agreed.
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Alex you’re dead on. What more can we expect from such a vacuous person who hasn’t had an original Idea since who knows when? If it were sending out invites for the next Toga party she’d be all over it like white on rice.
Besides Alex, she’s being set up by the puppet masters who are leading her around in preparation to take a fall, just in time for the next election. It’s as obvious as her posing is.
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I’ll agree with everything you’ve said until the last line.
She is NOT being set up by anyone. 4/7 of their top backers would like her out right now. Only two a willing to move immediately.
Christy is in a whole heap of trouble.
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thank you, thoughtful column.
my heart goes out to all involved
carol james has dealt with this tragedy with such class
grace while under stress and grief.
carol would have made a wonderful premier.
a special thank you goes out to the volunteer fire fighters, the first responders all of the health care teams.
my only hope is that all levels of goverment, as well as the unions put aside any diffrences for the people of burns lake
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Isn’t it amazing that the two best premiers we’ll never have are both named Carole…
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Yes, and I suspect Ms Taylor greets every day with a huge grin over what she turned down.
As for the people suffering in Burns lake;
The government can’t just throw money out willy nilly.
Isn’t it enough that they give tax credits to Disney, FOX,, MGM, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Universal, and Warner Bros who, among others, are struggling to make ends meet on a paltry 60 billion annually? And the logic behind those credits is really solid. They do it, not because it is needed, but because others do.
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No one is advocating for willy nilly.
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When a mill is shut down, or there is a tragedy like what happened here, I think the premier of the day should show up to represent us and offer those involved some hope and concrete help on our behalf. That’s when they need it.
Unfortunately this premier (I choke a little when I use the title in her case) has scurried in front of every camera at every opportunity to the extent that it is an ongoing farce. She shows up when nobody wants or needs her there. And so her presence at the scene of this disaster cheapens what should otherwise be seen as our leader’s duty. It’s a damn shame and hopefully the next duly elected premier will restore dignity to the office. It hasn’t seen it in a while.
As for government help to rebuild the facility, it would seem to make a lot of sense and keep several hundred people on the payroll and paying taxes rather than on employment assistance or worse. Certainly a better use of $150 million than putting a retractable roof on BC Place, although no reason we can’t do both.
I wonder though, whether that would see a challenge from US lumber interests as a subsidy according to the Softwood Lumber Agreement, or attract a complaint from competing mills in this province. In any case, the idea should be pursued.
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Superb comment. Very well written.
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To bad the Northern Gateway pipeline isn’t shovel ready.
If the mill was viable, and enough tax incentives were given, I’m sure some company would build a mill. I’m OK with tax incentives. If it doesn’t make sense for a company – it really doesn’t make sense for the government.
The list of “government supported” failures by the NDP is legion. Although the BC libs have sought to out NDP the NDP in many areas, business is not one of the areas they should seek the same level of incompetence.
BTW: I also hate the floating side bar … it reminds me of all of the flash laden Chinese sites.
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I disagree.
The Northern Pipeline would make no difference. Why connect the two? One is essential, the other evil.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the govt helping the community. You cannot drop one standard on every community anymore than you can drop one standard on all your children. Some require more help than others. So we agreed, at least, on the incentives–though SOME cash may be required for infrastructure which facilitates the company to make a go of a new mill.
I’m sorry you hate the sidebar, it’s staying.
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Is there any way of miminizing or disabling it? I don’t notice it on my laptop but it does block the text on my iPhone.
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Yes! You click to minimize it.
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I hope the cameras the media were using are under warranty. It won’t be a Kodak warranty since they went Chapter 11….. wonder who will get them out of the glue to save Rochester NY?
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Actually, I think Kodak are one of the corporations that genuinely need time to restructure and not necessarily a huge handout. Have a better look at their sheet.
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Throwing money at a situation before all the cost-benefits are known would be dubious – in this case there is a question of sufficient access to timber – but regionally that mill was very important so finding the money to replace it with something better would be a good goal.
Meanwhile let’s not overlook the possibility of criminal recriminations, including that the employer and the province could both have been guilty of inadequate attention to safety – in this case trying to keep operating with frozen pipes?? What’s with that? And now there are reports of excessive dust too?
Will the owners walk away with a handsome insurance settlement and leave the government and the native minority partners holding the bag?
We need more than prayers here Alex, we need forensic accountants and retroactive safety assessments. This mill could have been yet another victim of Campbell’s false economies – with more blood on his hands from cutting back on safety enforcement.
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It would be the height of absurdity for anyone to suggest that the infrastructure enabling the plant to be rebuilt would be cost prohibitive.
This is what government in one trick towns is for. This is what govt is supposed to be doing in times of crisis. It’s called leadership. No one is asking for them to rebuild the entire mill.
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It will be interesting to see what the results of the investigation conclude as to the origin and cause of the explosion. I immediately thought it of a fuel tank, or a boiler, or possibly a dust explosion. There were several comments made by the workers that most mills shut down operations when it gets colder than -30 cel. Why? Because workers will close doors and turn off fans to keep warm, allowing dust (or fumes)to build to the point of super saturation in the air. One spark from a motor and …………
It wont change what happened but it may prevent a repeat.
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miss flip flop photo op
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I am familiar with BFP. A past employee of 25 yrs. I moved away 9 yrs ago. Since I left there has been a couple owner-ship changes. Re-building is a possibility “if” the current owners have vision. At that time there was a 100 year plan. The timber rights/commitments were in place for many years. The pine beetle infestation has influenced some changes of course. At least I expect there was a plan for timber prior to the fire. The kilns, planer, log-sorting area etc are all un-harmed. The damage is massive, about 75% of the manufacturing part of Babine’s operation from what I see in the video. We were told in the past that 80% of the cost before shipping the final product was getting the logs to the mill. If this is still true, in my personal view, it should be re-built.
But then, I am emotionally biased.
My wife and I were able to visit some of the family and friends at VGH on Thursday. Seeing the extent of the injuries both physical and emotional brings only a little of the reality of the extent of what has happened..
My ex co-workers did many heroic acts to help each other in extremely difficult circumstances. I am so proud of you guys.
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And that’s precisely why they deserve some help.
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Looks like the former Forest District Manager, Bob Clark has been dragged out of retirement to go and assess the economic situation and make recommendations to cabinet. He is formerly an asst. deputy minister involved in the pine beetle issues.
j
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Good stuff.
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