Skip to main content
flashbacks

Forestry Minister Andrew Petter walks into a press conference prior to the the government announcement ending clearcutting in Clayoquot Sound.Jeff Vinnick/The Canadian Press

15 YEARS AGO … (Sept. 11-17, 1996)

Forest renewal board approves NDP cash grab

The deficit-challenged NDP government received permission this week to siphon up to $400-million from a Forest Renewal B.C. fund earmarked for reforestation and retraining programs.

Following a three-hour board meeting on Thursday, Forest Renewal B.C. announced that allowing the government to access the money would do "more for the forest sector and all of B.C. than letting these funds sit in a bank."

Created in 1994 to help displaced forestry workers, Forest Renewal B.C. is funded by increased stumpage rates charged to companies logging on Crown land.

NDP politicians promised the money would never be diverted into general revenues. But the extra fees are generating close to $400-million a year and the agency has spent just $275-million on programs, resulting in a growing surplus that is projected to reach $1-billion next spring.

Despite the FRBC windfall, the province still needs to slash $750-million in spending over the next 18 months to deal with a billion-dollar shortfall this year, Finance Minister Andrew Petter said.

Flash forward: Four months later, Premier Glen Clark cancelled the controversial cash grab, citing the Crown corporation's mandate to spend the surplus on job creation.

25 YEARS AGO … (Sept. 11-17, 1986)

Huey in, Taylor out as nomination scandal rocks NPA

Vancouver Alderman Gordon Campbell demanded a probe of "voting irregularities" this week following the nomination of Gim Huey to the Non-Partisan Association's slate of candidates for this fall's civic election.

Mr. Huey's nomination robbed Carole Taylor, one of the NPA's rising stars, of a spot on the slate. Following the association's weekend nomination meeting, Ms. Taylor accused her rival of busing in hundreds of supporters and instructing them to vote for the first nine names on the ballot. Ms. Taylor's name was listed 12th.

Mr. Campbell, the NPA's mayoral candidate, labelled the tactics "dishonest" and urged his NPA colleagues to reconsider Mr. Huey's candidacy. He admitted meeting with Mr. Huey on the weekend and asking him to step down to make room for Ms. Taylor.

However, Mr. Campbell backed off the idea of holding a second nomination meeting when NPA candidate Johnathon Baker threatened to sue Mr. Campbell if he tried to declare the results of the vote invalid.

During a closed-door meeting Monday evening, NPA directors decided to uphold Mr. Huey's nomination.

Flash forward: Ms. Taylor ran as an independent in the 1986 civic election and earned a seat on council. Mr. Huey ran for the NPA and lost.



Special to The Globe and Mail

Interact with The Globe