Foresty Ministry Transformation

February 6, 2002

The following is from a leaked Ministry of Forestry document. It is the government songsheet for explaining its gutting of the Ministry of Forests.

Nurseries

Key Messages:

Government is getting out of delivery of services that the private sector is capable of providing, such as seedling nurseries. The Core Services Review has confirmed that the Forest Service will discontinue management of nurseries by 2003-04.
This involves privatizing the Skimikin Nursery, near Salmon Arm, and relocating operations at the Surrey nursery site to a private site or to Green Timbers under a public/private partnership. Government wishes to retain a presence at Green Timbers.
A feasibility study was conducted in 2000/01 regarding the relocation of Surrey Nursery in recognition of the high value of the land. A further feasibility study is currently underway to identify options for government to retain an ongoing presence at Green Timbers.
One objective of privatization is to secure ongoing employment for the existing staff at the two nurseries.
Staff have worked very diligently, especially over the past two years, to provide cost competitive, high quality seedlings. The efforts of Forest Service staff have proven that the operations can be successful under both private or government management.
Privatization of the nurseries will result in the reduction of two finance positions in the Resource Tenures and Engineering Branch.

Questions and Answers:

1. What happens to my pension if/when the nursery is privatized. Will it remain the same with the BCGEU, or will I have to start all over with the new company?
Your pension will remain intact until you begin to draw on it but there will be no more contributions to it unless an agreement can be reached with the new employer that will result in continuing contributions. The size of the pension will reflect the level of contributions.

2. How soon will the Surrey site be vacated?
We expect to phase out of the Surrey site over the next one to two years. Once we have vacated the site, it will be turned over to other government agencies for disposal.

3. What will happen to the Surrey Nursery site once it is vacated?
The land base at Surrey is considered to have a highest and best use (market value) commensurate with commercial or light industrial enterprises rather than as a nursery.

4. What will happen if no one purchases the two nurseries?
Interest has already been expressed in the nurseries by the private sector. In the unlikely event that no one comes forward in response to the 'Request for Proposals', closure of the nurseries would be considered.

5. What options are being considered for Green Timbers?
Government has expressed an interest to populate the Green Timbers site with compatible uses and are exploring various options with groups like the Provincial Emergency Program, Surrey Fire Department, Kwantlen College, and others.

6. What are the current timelines for nursery privatization and the determination of Green Timbers' future?
We anticipate executive endorsement of recommendations for Surrey and Skimikin by March 31, 2002.

We expect to complete the Green Timbers feasibility study by mid-March and cross-reference these results with the objectives for Surrey.

A RFP for the disposal of Skimikin Nursery will be advertised in April, closing in June. Transfer/privatization of the nursery is scheduled to be completed this fall.

At this time, we are unable to predict the outcome of the Green Timbers feasibility study but we expect that there will be negotiations required during fiscal 2003/04 to facilitate Surrey relocation, if that proceeds.