Opening/Chair: Larry Beazley was the Chair for today’s meeting. He asked Alana to lead us in the singing of O’Canada. That was followed by a moment of personal reflection.
Visitors/Guests: Mayor Christine Blair had two guests join her today.
- Dr. Kathleen Kevany who is a professor at Dal AC.
- David McKillop who was the Coordinator of Mathematics at the school board, who is now retired.
Speaker: Jeff Bishop, Executive Director of Forest NS.
Jeff Bishop is currently Executive Director with Forest Nova Scotia - an association that has been the voice of the forest sector in Nova Scotia for over 85 years. Jeff has more than 20 years of experience providing communications, public relations and operational council to a variety of not-for-profit organizations and associations. In his role with Forest Nova Scotia, he also sits on the board of the Forestry Safety Society of Nova Scotia, Association for Sustainable Forestry, Nova Scotia Forestry Association, as well as the Minister's Roundtable on Environment and Sustainable Prosperity. In 2017, he was also appointed General Manager of the newly created Atlantic Lumber Board. In January of this year, Jeff was appointed by Premier MacNeil as a member of the Forestry Transition Team - tasked with outlining a path towards a future forest sector in the wake of the closure of the Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County.
Throughout his career, Jeff has given back and learned a lot through his involvement in his geographical, professional and other communities - such as serving on the board of directors with the St. FX University Alumni Association; serving at the provincial, regional and international levels as a Director with International Association of Business Communicators; and most recently joining the Atlantic Council of the Canadian Society of Association Executives.
Jeff holds a BA in Political Science from St. F.X. University, and an Advanced Diploma in Public Relations from Nova Scotia Community College and he lives just outside of Truro with his wife Chantel and their 2 sons, and their 20 pound, larger than life dog - Cooper Francis.
Jeff spoke to us today about the Forest Industry in Nova Scotia, the closure of the Pulp Mill, and the changes taking place today due to the closure.
Here is an overview of Jeff’s presentation:
- Jeff started his presentation by thanking Rotary for the good work taking place in the community and beyond.
- Forest NS is made up 600+ members from all sectors - sm & lg private landowners/managers; Christmas tree growers; silviculture, trucking and harvesting contractors; pellet mills; HW and SW sawmills; energy producers; pulp and paper mills. 85% are small private landowners.
- NS Forested Land Ownership is made up of 55% private, 35% public, and 10% industrial freehold.
- The total Roundwood harvested has declined by 50% in the last decade.
- A study completed in 2016 found the following:
-total economic output 2.1 billion annually (up from 1.5 billion in 2012)
-11,500 direct/indirect jobs (up from 10,200 in 2012)
-800 million contributed to the provincial economy (up from 575m in 2012)
-Forest Products industry ranks 5th in NS contribution to GDP in the Goods Producing Sector
-Forest Products industry ranks 2nd in NS jobs in Goods Producing Sector
-Forest Products industry ranks 3rd in NS exporters in Goods Producing Sector
**for the full study: http://forestns.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/FNS- Economic-Impact-Report-Gardner-Pinfold-Dec-2016.pdf
- Northern Pulp’s Impact on NS Economy
-Annual Provincial Spending: 315 million
-Operations directly affect and benefit over 1300 companies
-One of the largest shippers with Halifax Port Authority
- A history of the Pulp Mill
-June 2014 pipeline leak, protest and agreement
- Boat Harbour Act (Passed in May 2015) - Agree on intent/outcome, disagree on timeline - Jan 31, 2020 deadline - Closes treatment facility…need new one - New facility requires an Environmental Assessment (EA)
- December 20, 2020 – Premier announces no extension to Boat Harbour Act
- Wood Fiber Flow in NS
- Northern Pulp Plays Significant Role Provincial Forestry Sector
-Sawmills: Consume (1.8–2.0 MM gmt of sawlogs/studwood annually)
->70-80% is sourced from private lands
-NPNS: Provides 20-30% of all sawmill roundwood requirements
->Security of supply provides impetus for sawmill and forestry-related investment
- Northern Pulp Purchases
-95% of all sawmill chips produced
-40% of all sawmill bark/sawdust produced
-575,000 gmt pulpwood annually (swd/hwd) 80% from private lands including 2/3 from small private producers
- NPNS purchases bolster sawmill economics
-Sawmill chips and bark/sawdust sales are essential for sawmill and related forestry suppliers economic survival
- Results of NP Closure
-Decrease in value of timberland = lost income for 30,000+ landowners Retirement, tuition, senior independence
-Contraction in logging force
-Sawmill closures
-Reduction of forest industry by at least 50%....6,000 direct and indirect jobs.
-Loss of silviculture industry (300 workers). No more planting trees, nurseries, precommercial thinning
-Lahey Report meaningless New practices involve the removal of the pulpwood in the forest to allow for higher quality trees to grow. If you can’t sell pulpwood, you can’t improve the health of the forest.
-A high-grade forest (only the best trees are harvested)
-Reduction in real estate values. (ex. Miramichi, Liverpool, Iroquois Falls Ont.)
- Forest Transition Team- A path to the future of Forestry in NS
-How do we keep people employed?
-How do we keep wood moving?
-Looking at other markets to explore
Member Health: No report of member health.
Announcements and Reports:
Secretary’s Report: The Strategic Planning meeting has been postponed. The regular scheduled Board Meeting for Tuesday, March 3rd will take place at 7 p.m. at Burchall MacDougall.
Matthew Redmond- Yearbook Committee: Matt handed out thank you packages to Rotarians, to be delivered to yearbook sponsors.
Larry announced the Children First Foundation would be meeting after the lunch meeting. He gave a shout out to Mark for all his hard work with the Christmas Index Program.
President's Report: No President’s Report.
Happy Mug:
Anna shared that her Aunt Diane held her 60th birthday party this past weekend. Diane chose Rotary as her charity of choice for her fundraiser style party and has currently raised $900, but is hoping to donate $1000 in total.
Alana shared that she won a prize at the NS Sports Heritage Awards. The prize was three license plates from the 1998 Allan Cup held in Truro, as well as a program from that event. She auctioned it off at the meeting…David Mills had the winning bid of $30. This money will be donated to the Rotary Foundation.
Visiting guest Dr. Kevany shared she was happy to join for today’s meeting and that she is thankful for all that Rotary does.
50/50: $32 pot. Initially, #837 was drawn, but the ticket was not claimed. #845 was redrawn and Dave Mills held the ticket but did not select the joker, so the pot grows.
Closing: Meeting adjourned at 1:19 p.m.
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