Report slams B.C. for freeing up forests

Auditor-General says Jordan River decision went against public interest; minister calls findings a ‘blistering attack’ on public service
JUSTINE HUNTER
VICTORIA — Armed with just a wafer-thin sheaf of briefing notes, then-forests minister Rich Coleman signed an order last year effectively improving Western Forest Products’ bottom line by about $150-million.
That was a feeble effort to measure whether giving up controls over valuable waterfront timberlands was in the public interest, B.C.’s Auditor-General concluded yesterday.

Conflict of interest probe to target former forest minister

Rich Coleman’s brother employed by firm that benefited from land transfer
Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist, with files from Sandra McCulloch
B.C.’s conflict-of-interest commissioner is about to take a close look at former forests minister Rich Coleman’s family ties.
As auditor general John Doyle was reviewing Coleman’s decision to allow Western Forest Products to remove 28,000 hectares of private land from Vancouver Island tree farm licences, allegations were raised that the minister was in a possible conflict of interest. His older brother, Stan, is WFP’s manager of strategic planning.

Critics call for reversal of TFL deal

UVic prof urges halt to subdivision plans, land transfer
Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist
A judicial review is needed in the wake of the auditor general’s report that blasts the way government dealt with private land removals from Vancouver Island tree farm licences, says Calvin Sandborn, legal director of the University of Victoria’s environmental law clinic.
The public needs government to tell them why they are not getting parks or compensation, he said.

Forest deal lacked ‘regard for public interest’

Critics want Coleman removed from cabinet, deal suspended
Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist
Critics called for Rich Coleman to be removed from cabinet after a damning report by B.C.’s auditor general yesterday slammed the former forests minister for a decision to remove thousands of hectares of land on Vancouver Island from tree farm licences, or TFLs.
The NDP also asked for the release of TFL lands to be suspended until there is a review, including the cost to the taxpayer of reversing the release.

Forest land audit sparks range war

By Tom Fletcher – Alberni Valley News
VICTORIA – The B.C. government didn’t take adequate care of the public interest when it allowed Western Forest Products to remove 28,000 hectares of privately owned land from tree farm licenses on Vancouver Island, B.C. Auditor General John Doyle reported Wednesday.
Doyle’s first report since arriving from Australia to take up the job of B.C.’s financial watchdog prompted a quick and angry response from the government.