comment 34 35

July 21–27, 2009 Business in Vancouver COMMENT 35FOREST VIEWPETER WOODBRIDGE a catch. Canadian mills have agreement. surviving firms in Canada to invest the money in capital Strategic investors may are likely to emerge stronger Government hits the mark with projects for energy effi ciency be left wondering if interven- and more profi table. It makes or to enhance their environ- tion is the correct policy. An- no sense to lose that capacity forestry green transformation lifeline mental performance. ticipating an eventual end to because of a temporarily very Still, that’s good news for the current global recession, unlevel playing fi eld created – a lot of B.C.’s pulp mills. Cur- they question if these meas- albeit inadvertently – by the hen it comes to govern- almost every playing field Used for energy produc- rently, they’re on the ropes ures will leave the sector fi - U.S.Wment intervention into throughout the global econ- tion, this is good business. reeling from sucker punches Third, many provinces The forest industry’s private-sector markets, there omy. Global energy prices have of the U.S. subsidy, low pulp define themselves as being have been some howlers over The justification, of turned conventional pulp- prices, shortages of wood long-term players in the tree-participation in the the years. course, is that the global im- makers into green energy chips (because of sawmill growing business – aiming Massive subsidies by B.C.’s pacts otherwise might ...