Editor:
Regarding the Aug. 12 letter “Bullying tactic” from David Elstone of the Truck Loggers Association and his comments regarding an ad that ELF ran in your paper. The ad was an information piece listing the name of the logging company that secured a contract to clear cut timber within the proposed Mt. Elphinstone Provincial Park expansion area. This park expansion is supported by the Sunshine Coast Regional District as an Official Community Plan (OCP) bylaw.
Yes, the ad did name the owners of the logging company who happen to be residents of this region. The intention was to inform them of the OCP’s objectives, and as the ad stated, request that they contact BC Timber Sales with a proposal to move the cutblock outside of the park expansion area, creating a win-win solution insofar as these local contractors can then harvest timber in tree farms (previously planted areas) and at the same time, respect the spirit of the OCP to secure all remaining Elphinstone forests that have never been impacted by industrial-scale logging.
Mr. Elstone stated in his letter that he “respects” the regional district’s OCP, yet is quick to say that he also supports logging in the park expansion area. As they say: “You can’t have it both ways.” If these few local loggers are indeed “local unsung heroes” then they would be respecting the community OCP, and inform BCTS to find an alternative solution to logging out the heart of the Elphinstone Park expansion area.
Ross Muirhead, Hans Penner, Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF)
