News Release - September 27, 2007

VICTORIA - Opposition MLA John Horgan is speaking out against a land giveaway from the Campbell government to Western Forest Products that will lead to a quick sale of valuable waterfront property from Otter point to Jordan River.

"The Campbell government is allowing timber companies to sell off timber licensed lands," said Horgan, MLA for Malahat - Juan De Fuca, following a meeting today with forest workers and the recreational community. "Gordon Campbell's plan for the coast is to reduce jobs for loggers and increase profits for timber companies."

In February of this year the Campbell government allowed Western Forest Products to release large areas of forested land from public scrutiny and regulations required under the Forest Act. This move by the Liberals has allowed the forestry giant to now sell more than 1,800 hectares of forested land along the coastline from Otter Point to Jordan River. The remaining 28,000 hectares of forested land owned by Western Forest Products along Vancouver Island may also be open to future sale and development.

"Sensitive areas on our island are being lost, and the B.C. Liberal government is not giving communities west of Sooke any opportunity to have a say in what happens to the land," said Horgan. "The Campbell government shouldn't be handing timber companies our valuable campsites, public beach accesses, and wilderness trails for sale to private developers."

Thursday, Horgan met with representatives of the Westcoast Surfing Associates and forest worker representatives, and plans to hold a larger meeting with stakeholders in early October.

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