Forestry an economic bellwether
THE TRI-CITY DAILY
By Diane Strandberg
January 15, 2009

Jim Sinclair hasn’t been invited to any blue ribbon committees to talk about ways government can stimulate the economy.

But the BC Federation of Labour president isn’t prepared to sit on the sidelines either….

 “Obviously, we are going into a difficult economic time but it didn’t happen last week,” said Sinclair, who has held the BC Fed post for nearly a decade.

….For Sinclair, whose organization represents half a million workers in government, construction trades, retail and grocery, and other private sector unions, the roots of the current economic downturn go back many years. But it’s the present he’s most concerned about….

 “There’s no fat in the system... In fact, there are huge needs out there with special needs children in schools, seniors.”

Health care always needs more money and funding is needed for critical transportation infrastructure — such as the Evergreen Line ….

If he were asked, the shaggy-haired former reporter for the Nelson Daily News, who has spent 25 years in the labour movement, would offer his own 10-point plan.

His advice would likely differ from that offered by a blue ribbon economic panel struck by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and leading industrialists expected to attend two upcoming sessions on competitiveness hosted by Premier Campbell. But Sinclair is happy to share his ideas nonetheless.

There’s enough capacity in the construction industry to start rolling out important infrastructure projects, such as the Evergreen Line, and building housing for the homeless and those who need special supports.

“What better time?” asks Sinclair, who said it’s time “to own” the homeless problem.

“Entice developers to build things... arrange deals. There is a crisis. It’s also an opportunity to invest in the things we need, too.”

Health care, child care, education, housing, transportation infrastructure, post-secondary education, improvements to unemployment insurance are also on his to-do list, and Sinclair would like governments to seek input from working people and community leaders, not just industry leaders.

“It’s not just the bankers who have ideas. You know what they’ll say.”…