Norm Macdonald MLA                                Columbia River – Revelstoke

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

September 26th, 2008

Forest critic to tour Revelstoke and the East Kootenay

Opposition forest critic Bob Simpson will join Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald on a tour of Revelstoke, Golden, the Columbia Valley and Cranbrook next week to discuss solutions to the province’s forestry crisis.

Simpson, who represents the forest-dependent region of Cariboo North, says the meetings will focus on solutions to the problems.

“More than 14,000 jobs have been lost from the industry since the beginning of 2007,” said Simpson.  “And this industry is critically important to communities like Revelstoke, Golden, Radium and Canal Flats.

“Forestry communities are waiting for the Campbell government to offer some real solutions to ensure the long-term viability of the industry that helped to build this province.

“We haven’t seen any solutions from the BC Liberals, just a roundtable discussion.”

Simpson is visiting a series of communities through BC through this fall to hear from British Columbians on the state of the forest industry.  Macdonald is pleased to have Simpson visit his constituency.

“I’m looking forward to having Bob Simpson in the area, sharing the NDP’s five-point forestry plan,” declared Macdonald.  “Forest workers in my area tell me that the industry is in crisis and that the Campbell government is doing nothing to protect forest workers.”

MLAs Bob Simpson and Norm Macdonald will be presenting the NDP’s Forestry Plan at a public meeting in Revelstoke on October 2nd.  They will also be meeting directly with forest workers throughout the tour.

Our Forests, Our Future: A Plan to Revitalize our Forest Industry is available online at www.ourforests.ca.

Simpson will also be holding a luncheon meeting in Golden on October 3rd.  The forum which will be hosted by the Golden Chapter of the Council of Canadians will be called A Call to Action: A Forum on Climate Change.

BACKGROUNDER:

State of Our Forests

Public Forum with Opposition Forest Critic Bob Simpson

Thursday, October 2nd, 7 PM

Revelstoke Community Centre

Hosted by Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald

A Call to Action: A Forum on Climate Change

With MLA Bob Simpson

Friday, October 3rd, 12 noon

Jita’s Café, 1007 11th Ave S

No-host lunch

Hosted by the Golden Chapter of the Council of Canadians