| NDP Research Lost in the Forest
November 4, 2009 NDP RESEARCH LOST IN THE FOREST VICTORIA - Forests Minister Pat Bell is calling on Doug Routley and the NDP to do a better job of doing their forestry homework. "The NDP's misguided view of the forestry sector misleads the public," says Bell. "They've got their facts wrong again." Yesterday in the Legislature, Doug Routley erroneously attacked the government for supposedly cutting contributions to FPInnovations, a forestry research and development organization that operates out of the University of British Columbia. “Despite this minister’s claims to want to revitalize the industry, his government cut half a million dollars funding to that company which was matched by a half million dollar federal cut,” declared NDP MLA Doug Routley. The problem with the NDP’s claim, however, is the provincial government has actually increased funding for FPInnovations. Funding for 2008/2009 was $2,049,500 from the Ministry of Forests and Range, an amount that has increased to $3.6 million for 2009/2010. Bell confirmed the BC Liberal government’s continued support for FPInnovations and called on the NDP to quit fear mongering with false information. -30- |
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