Forestry
Province commits to forest plan
In response to a report calling for better use of B.C.'s "marginal forests," the provincial government has committed to 11 new actions to increase the B.C.'s timber supply.
They include:
- identifying and quantifying marginal forests;
- revisiting the designation of sensitive areas; and
- analyzing areas insufficiently restocked following the mountain pine beetle infestation and reviewing cost-effective treatments.
The government announced no new funding to support the plan.
Mining
Atlatsa fires more
than 2,000 workers
Vancouver-based Atlatsa Resources Corp. (TSXV:ATL) announced October 9 that it has "dismissed" 2,161 workers that have been taking part in "unprotected industrial action" at the company's Bokoni platinum mines in South Africa.
On October 1, the company confirmed that mine employees had started job action at the mine, which is a joint venture with Anglo American Platinum Ltd. As of October 1, mine attendance was below 20%.
In the update, Atlatsa said the fired employees had until end of day October 10 to appeal their dismissal.
Energy
Victoria doubts Enbridge takes B.C. concerns "seriously"
Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB) and Northern Gateway representatives are not taking B.C. concerns seriously, B.C. Environment Minister Terry Lake has charged.
Lake added that the province's cross-examination on October 10 made it clear that the analysis of geological challenges is incomplete and the mapping of geological hazards, such as landslide areas, lacks detail. Enbridge and Northern Gateway representatives would not, under cross-examination, commit to adopting better leak detection systems.
Mining
Endeavour announces work stoppage at Mexican mine
Vancouver-based silver miner Endeavour Silver Corp. (TSX:EDR) announced October 9 that an illegal work stoppage was blocking access to company facilities near the company's El Cubo mine in Mexico.
It said that "several non-union contract workers" had blocked access to the Peregrina mine and the Las Torres mine plant and administrative offices being leased to Endeavour's Compania Minera del Cubo subsidiary.
Endeavour CEO and director Bradford Cooke expressed "disappointment" with the labour action.
Forestry
Idled Radium Hot Springs sawmill to reopen
A sawmill in Radium Hot Springs that has been closed since spring 2009 is slated to restart October 14.
Canfor Corp. (TSX:CFP) closed its sawmill in Radium Hot Springs in 2009 because of poor market conditions, throwing about 150 people out of work. The mill was a major employer in the town and its closure had a devastating impact on the community, said Doug Singer, president of the United Steelworkers Union local 1-405, which represents mill workers.
"The restart of the Radium mill is absolutely huge," Singer told Business in Vancouver.
