New Democrat forest critic visits Cranbrook on province-wide tour

submitted

CRANBROOK - New Democrat forest critic Norm Macdonald will be stopping in
Cranbrook Wednesday as part of a province-wide tour aimed at building
solutions to the crisis in B.C.'s forest industry.

"We need to restore the health of B.C. forests, plant more trees, and
generate more local jobs," Macdonald said.

"After a decade of Liberal mismanagement and neglect, it's time to change
our approach," he said. "This tour is about working with communities to
develop practical solutions to get our forest sector back on track."

Macdonald will meet with industry officials, union representatives,
environmentalists and forestry experts while in the region.

The forest critic has been holding similar meetings in forest communities
throughout the province over the past few weeks.

Macdonald has also been working with NDP candidate Norma Blissett on local
issues in the forest industry.

"The crisis in our forests is a crucial issue for working families in the
Kootenays and in communities across B.C.," said Blissett, the NDP candidate
for Kootenay East.  "And the Liberal government's priorities are backwards."

Norma Blissett NDP Candidate for Kootenay  East

"The Liberals are wasting 15 million of taxpayer dollars for a massive
partisan advertising blitz, but they aren't doing anything to restore the
land base," Blissett said. "That $15 million could have been used to plant a
third more seedlings on Crown lands."