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A member of the Forest Renewal BC Board who is retiring from the board
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From localnewscanada.com
Forest Renewal B.C. has failed to represent the interests of northern B.C.,
accuses a former member of the FRBC board of directors.
FRBC, a Crown corporation created by the provincial government in 1994, should
be scrapped or seriously overhauled, says John Brink, president of Brink Forest
Products in Prince George.
FRBC has not represented the interests of the northern B.C. value-added sector,
of which his company is a part, claims Brink. He was appointed to the FRBC board
in September 1999 for a one-year term.
"I accepted the position to represent the interests of northern British
Columbia," Brink says in a news release. "I was particularly concerned
that the independent value-added industry in the North should receive a fair
deal. Frankly, it has not."
"From what I have observed, it still seems that money raised in the North
has been frivolously wasted on projects elsewhere in the province and seldom
in the best interests of northern B.C." -- Former Forest Renewal BC board
member John Brink
FRBC has become politicized, damaging its original mandate, claims Brink, who
sought the BC Liberal nomination in Prince George-Mount Robson that was won
by Shirley Bond, chair of School District 57.
In late October, Premier Ujjal Dosanjh directed that FRBC become more focused
on communities. Brink says that’s simply another way for the government
to use FRBC funds for political purposes.
He says money that should be reinvested in the stewardship of the land is being
doled out to ailing businesses on the pretense of saving jobs.
Brink admits his views directly contrast with those of the premier as well
as Roger Stanyer, FRBC chair and CEO. Brink insists his differences with FRBC
activities are not politically motivated.
"My views are based on my passion for a healthy forest sector and my passion
for Northern B.C. As a private citizen I have always been suspicious of the
purpose of FRBC and why it was founded at all. During my tenure on the board,
I seriously questioned the rationale of FRBC and raised issues that I felt were
detrimental to the interests of B.C.’s forest sector. From what I have
observed, it still seems that money raised in the North has been frivolously
wasted on projects elsewhere in the province and seldom in the best interests
of northern B.C.,"
Brink says he publicly refused to accept any remuneration or payment for his
participation on the FRBC board.
FRBC says it "takes some of the wealth generated by public forests and
reinvests it into the land and its people. Working with our partners across
B.C., our investments help to build a more diversified, sustainable forest economy
that supports local communities, workers and their families."
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