A provincial government announcement last week of more than 200 layoffs in the Forest and Range Ministry and the Integrated Land Management Bureau is an unfortunate event spawned by the recession, says Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett.

But NDP forests critic and Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald says the government is no longer committed to forestry and regards it as a sunset industry.

On April 12, the government issued 294 layoff notices, 204 in the Forests Ministry and 38 in the Integrated Land Management Bureau with the rest coming from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.

Two Forest Ministry employees will be laid off in Cranbrook and one in Cranbrook, Bennett said.

Forests Minister Pat Bell told the Vancouver Sun that he is encouraging job sharing and reduced work weeks as a way of dealing with the cuts. Bell also pointed out that harvesting is down 35 per cent this year.

Bennett says the public sector is not immune to the economic downturn. “We are sympathetic to all employees affected by today's workforce adjustments. Employees will have access to support through the ministries and the B.C. Public Service Agency to help them through this difficult process and many will find other government positions.”

After five consecutive balanced budgets, the world-wide recession means the B.C. government is running a deficit like most other governments, Bennett says.

“Natural resource revenues are down. In forestry alone, revenues are forecast at $ 491 million – down from over $1 billion just three years ago. The government's plan to balance the budget by 2013/14 means that we must make the tough but reasoned spending choices to ensure taxpayers' money is used prudently, and that each dollar is directed to the highest priority.”

But Macdonald doesn't quite see it the same way. “With 30,000 jobs lost in forestry since the BC Liberals took over and the closure of 71 mills, it is clear that the BC Liberals have failed comprehensively in their approach to forestry. Now with the downgrading of the Forest Service, it appears they have given up completely.”

Macdonald says Forest Minister Pat Bell's attitude shows a serious lack of understanding of the scope of responsibilities that lie within the ministry.  The Forest Service's mission is to protect, manage and conserve forested land.

“Over 90% of British Columbia is Crown land, owned by the people of British Columbia, and it is the responsibility of the Forest Service to act as stewards for this land, regardless of the level of harvest.”

“Over 90% of British Columbia is Crown land, owned by the people of British Columbia, and it is the responsibility of the Forest Service to act as stewards for this land, regardless of the level of harvest.”

Meanwhile Bennett says the cuts won't impair the Province's fire-fighting efforts this summer because no Wildfire Management Branch were given notices. Reforestation is also being spared because funding is being maintained in the Forests for Tomorrow Program, he says.