Forest Minister DeJong incites hatred?
by Syd Haskell, published on January 26, 2004, Smithers Interior
News
Forests Minister Mike de Jong 'incites hatred'
By Syd Haskell
On Nov. 14, at the Integrated Resource Management Conference
in Prince George, Forests Minister Michael de Jong may have
broken the law. In the middle of a speech explaining how his
government plans to open new offshore markets for British Columbia
forest products, he drew attention to several Chinese newspapers
and pointed to advertisements purchased in them by Forest Action
Network and other environmental groups, calling for the boycott
of products derived from B.C.'s old-growth forests.
The ads were a "slap in the face" to all rural B.C.
forestry workers, de Jong said, and that it was "time to
take on these eco-terrorists, time to fight back and let them
know that we are going to take it to them, time to fight those
who are trying to kill our jobs and our communities."
Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code of Canada states it is
an offence to communicate statements in a public place, inciting
hatred against an identifiable group in such a way there will
likely be a breach of the peace. Was de Jong inciting hatred?
He was in a public place. He identified specific groups placing
the ads and he labelled them "terrorists." Encouraging
his listeners to "fight" and "take it to them,"
accompanied by words like "slap" and "kill,"
would lead a reasonable person to believe this minister endorses
violence as a remedy.
How can the provincial government spend $12 million (this year)
to market timber abroad, and a similar amount within the province,
to promote its viewpoint, but when conservationists present
theirs in a newspaper, they become eco-terrorists, deserving
of little more than a good beating? How can a policy of conservation
and preservation be labelled terrorism? Whose property has been
damaged? Whose lives have been put at risk?
The forest minister's statements are inaccurate and inflammatory.
They come from someone who is supposed to be a public servant
and representative, someone British Columbians have put in a
position of trust and influence. Will the attorney general consider
laying criminal charges against de Jong for his behaviour in
Prince George? Inciting hatred is surely a more serious crime
than Premier Campbell's error in judgment in Hawaii. De Jong
needs to make a public apology, including an explanation of
his wrongdoing, so those he incited in Prince George will re-evaluate
their position. Otherwise, they might feel justified in intimidating
"tree-huggers" and righteous in assaulting logging
protesters.
Since 1988, workers have assaulted and injured enviro-campaigners
at Sulfur Passage, Upper Tsitika, Rossander, Upper Nahmint,
Lower Walbran, Ucluelet, Elaho, Elk, Clatse Lake and Ure Creeks.
Far too many people in rural logging communities are stressfully
underemployed and susceptible enough towards violence without
encouragement from a minister of the Crown.
De Jong blames environmentalists for job loss, but reality
shows his government has been totally insensitive to job loss
while promoting industry. Under his "forest revitalization
plan," the long-standing social contract requiring that
resource extraction provide local jobs has vanished. The stark
reality is companies have gained certainty, while timber workers
have lost security. The mill at Louis Creek near Kamloops was
destroyed by fire this summer, with hundreds of employees thrown
out of work. Now, the forest licensee has decided not to rebuild
and, thanks to this government, is no longer required to.
Since being appointed forest minister, thousands of timber-related
jobs have been lost due to government policy, not environmental
protests, as the minister would have you believe. Premier Campbell
needs to articulate what was wrong with de Jong's behaviour
and discipline the offending minister. More importantly, he
needs to declare his government's unconditional support for
freedom of speech and the rights of individuals and groups to
express opinions without fear of retribution.
Sydney Haskell is president of the Carmanah Forestry Society,
a Victoria-based conservation group.
Syd Haskell, President
Carmanah Forestry Society
250-381-1141
www.carmanah.bc.ca
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