Hi Everyone,
I do not want us all to lose our momentum. I am encouraging everyone to re-address their letters of opposition and send them to their MLA. I would also suggest that you CC Premier, David Alward.
Below you will find a link to the MLA contact list.
We cannot afford to lose our momentum while we wait. We don’t want this to go to Second Reading without us informing our MLAs and the Premier of our opposition to Bill 22.
Gareth
Hi Everyone,
Yesterday’s meeting of the Standing Committee on Private Bills was an extraordinary event. Thanks to those who could make it. For those who could not make it I will try and summarize the key events.
First and foremost, it was clear to me that the MLAs that asked questions (about half of them) were obviously concerned and informed. This can only be the result of all of our correspondence over the last 10 days. I want to congratulate all of us for having the motivation and bravery to speak out against Bill 22. I was greatly impressed with ALL of the letters I read. They were all professional, clear, concise, and reasonable. I am so proud of the strength and integrity of forestry practitioners in this province.
I was very relieved that there were pointed and intelligent questions coming equally from both Conservative and Liberal MLAs. I think that we can be re-assured that there is no political agenda coming from Cabinet that would push Bill 22 through.
The proponents of Bill 22 appeared to be incapable or unwilling to answer any of the questions or concerns of both the Members of the Standing Committee and the opposition. Their lawyer dominated a lot of their presentation. Other presenters in support of Bill 22 were members of the ARPFNB executive. They supported Bill 22 by claiming it would ensure “good forestry” practice by preventing unqualified people from practicing forestry. They openly revealed their desire to control both the training and education of forestry professionals, as well as the practice of forestry throughout the NB forest sector. They openly revealed that they intend to determine the scope of training and competence for all forestry practitioners in the NB forest sector. They openly stated that they are unwilling and incapable of editing Bill 22 so that it only applies to their membership. In general they spent most of their time repeating the same propaganda, telling personal life stories, and personally accusing me of spreading misinformation with regards to Bill 22.
Other than representatives of the ARPFNB, there were NO other parties that presented in support of Bill 22.
The audience was filled with people opposed to Bill 22. Myself and Todd MacPherson spoke on behalf of the NBFTA. Robert Whitney spoke on behalf of MCFT. Hugh Hambly spoke on behalf of his forestry consulting business. Ken Hardie spoke on behalf of the Federation of Woodlot Owners. I believe that we all did a very good job of presenting our opposition to Bill 22. We were more than capable of answering the questions raised by the Members of the SCPB.
Now, unfortunately, we must wait. But it is clear that we have convinced the SCPB that Bill 22 in its current form is inappropriate as a Private Bill.
Thanks again for all your hard work on this.
Gareth
Gareth Davies
President,
New Brunswick Forest Technicians Association
1350 Regent Street
Fredericton, NB
E3C 2G6
April 4th, 2012
Members of the Standing Committee on Private Bills
Government of New Brunswick
To the Members of the Standing Committee on Private Bills,
On behalf of the New Brunswick Forest Technicians Association (NBFTA), I am writing to you in opposition of Bill 22: An Act to Incorporate the Association of Registered Professional Foresters of New Brunswick.
The NBFTA represents professional forest technicians/technologists in the province of New Brunswick. The NBFTA is not opposed to professional certification and accountability. The NBFTA is opposed to this proposed legislation and the process in which it was drafted.
In partnership with the ARPFNB, the NBFTA had been involved in drafting proposed legislation entitled “An Act to Incorporate the Association of New Brunswick Forestry Professionals,” and voted to oppose this proposed legislation on April 7th, 2011. Since that time the ARPFNB introduced “An Act to Incorporate the Association of Registered Professional Foresters of New Brunswick“.
The “Practice of Professional Forestry” is defined in this proposed legislation. This proposed legal definition includes both traditional forestry job descriptions as well as professionals teaching forestry in colleges and universities. This proposed legal definition includes all job tasks that both “foresters” and “forest technicians/technologists” have successfully completed for decades in the province of New Brunswick.
Under “Right to Practice” it is clearly stated that no person shall practise professional forestry unless registered as a Registered Professional Forester (R.P.F.) with the ARPFNB. Under this proposed legislation, only university-graduate forestry professionals (i.e. “foresters”) could be registered members of the ARPFNB. This proposed legislation would make it illegal for college-graduate forestry professionals (i.e. “forest technicians/technologists”) to practise forestry.
The current New Brunswick Forest Sector depends upon the professional abilities of both “foresters” and “forest technicians/technologists”.
Key stakeholders have not participated in the drafting of this proposed legislation. The ARPFNB has failed to meaningfully consult with key stakeholders.
The NBFTA will continue to insist that any legislation that attempts to define the practice of forestry should receive the formal and open support, consultation and participation of key stakeholders. The NBFTA believes that without the initial and continuing support and participation of key stakeholders, legislation of this nature should not be developed.
Due to the social and economic importance of the forest sector to the province of New Brunswick, this proposed legislation is of general public concern. The NBFTA cannot support this proposed legislation. It is our belief that it is inappropriate for it to be submitted as a private bill.
The NBFTA strongly opposes Bill 22.
We look forward to your meeting on April 12, 2012.
Yours truly,
Gareth Davies
President, NBFTA
GD/gd