The Nature Conservancy of Canada, Harper's History!

Preliminary:

1st Question: Why did the Federal Government give the NCC about $125,000,000.00 to buy the Darkwoods property for about $50,000,000.00 instead of purchasing it for the citizens of Canada and turning it into a Park. This would have had some benefit to the local communities for tourism and access. The Darkwoods property is being turned into a no access property. Who, related to the Federal Government or the citizens of Canada benefited from this? -Before the purchase, the talks which included contractors went similar to,

There will be no job loss.
Darkwoods will continue to manage the property for 5 years, so there will be little change, maybe a little less work (I expect this was agreed upon between the Government and NCC to give transition time for those of us who depended on this piece of land for our livings.)
NCC sends out a letter to contractors describing how valuable it considers all the Darkwoods contractors.

It seemed that with the gift of monies, someone was watching out for everyone's jobs.

subsequent to the purchase:

Cull Bros. would have lost their job immediately, however efforts by Darkwoods staff manages to keep them about 25% of their work for that year.
Within 3 years there would be a shadow of the work on the property for all except certain road maintenance workers who are busy deactivating roads.

Who betrayed the contractors? The Federal Government or the Nature Conservancy of Canada. What happened to our jobs?! Could the Federal Government really be involved in such a careless act with regards to peoples livelihoods? Just who benifited from this financial gift, was it the people of Canada or the NCC?

- Bad News! NCC, Government Subsidies and Job Loss

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The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)

Before the Darkwoods purchase there were many public meetings. To calm concerns and opposition, the NCC and Federal Government (Jim Abbott) looked at us when we questioned them about job security and said:

"There will be no job loss".
"There will be no changes for five years".
"There may be a little less work".

After the fact, some people would probably call these statements "lies"!

Bad News

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) obtained huge sums of Federal Government money ($125,000,000.00) to subsidize the purchase of Darkwoods Forestry ($50,000,000.00) in the Kootenays of B.C. (British Columbia, Canada). Among the promises made was "No job loss". This promise was repeated at all the meetings I went to by both NCC (Nature Conservancy of Canada) representatives and Government representative Jim Abbott (Federal Conservative party member for Kootenay East). Darkwoods Forestry was to remain as the forest manager. So it would not be likely that there would be drastic changes. (At the time, this was seemingly the opinion of Darkwoods management who were more exposed to confidential information.)

These promises convinced all direct and indirect (Contractors) employees of Darkwoods Forestry that everything would remain the same or very similar. This removed the necessity for concerned Contractors to publicly oppose the purchase give them a five year period of adjustment. The stage was set to look much like the NCC TV ads, how all would be wonderful under NCC management.

Here is a sample correspondence from the NCC CLICK HERE!

Job Loss

I have been employed by Darkwoods Forestry for 22 years and have experience a great relationship with them. Historically they put forth effort to keep me employed to at least a reasonable level through whatever the forest industry experienced. For several years before the NCC took control I found it necessary to purchase additional equipment and employ help to keep up with the level of development. The Nature Conservancy of Canada took over management of Darkwoods for the 2009 season. Darkwoods management started off with budget proposals similar to previous years with slight modifications to satisfy NCC objectives. After repeated rejections of the budgets which constantly reduced my work (road building), work was started very late. My job went from a job capable of supporting my family to 6 weeks. I called Pat Field who sympathized but said that the NCC policies did not allow them to build road (NCC policies trump jobs regardless of pre-purchase promises). I called Nancy Newhouse, who also sympathized with my job loss and wished me the best. So what happened to "No job loss"? For the 2010 season I was told that if there was any work for me, I should consider it an extra. No work! I called Jim Abbott, then our Federal Representative. He said he would get back to me and did so personally. He told me that I would be hearing from an NCC Representative. I never did, however I did get another short 6 week job, just enough to keep us going for a while longer. Fortunately we also got a couple of other jobs that year. For 2011, the our MLA has changed. The NCC has decided "NO ROAD CONSTRUCTION" (not the same as "Maybe a little less work"!). Thus far we haven't been so fortunate as to find any decent work. This leaves me struggling in a horrible economy because the government gave them funds. I have never been contacted by a NCC representative. They seem unconcerned with my position despite their promises!

If the Nature Conservancy of Canada had purchased Pluto Darkwoods without government hand outs they could have done with it as they pleased! This was not the case, they got Federal Government money and with that there should have been job protection! Either Steven Harper's federal government failed to exercise any controls or the NCC has failed to live up to their agreement.

***** My position:

I have lost about 80-90% of my income.
I own a bunch of specialized equipment with little hope of finding much work elsewhere
I am 62 years old and I believe have served my employer well as shown by the duration of employment.
I should be in a situation to sell my equipment for a good dollar with my job and good will, maybe retire. :) Unfortunately because the government subsidized a group with no commercial interests, my job is gone and hence my equipment is very close to valueless. :(
I don't have to mention how well I sleep now...

Here is a copy of a letter widely sent to potentially effected parties. There should have been some help or acknowledgement of the situation we have been left in: CLICK HERE!

(To be continued, we need help!)

In the spring of 2012, David Wilks had been elected to replace Jim Abbott, we felt it was a good time to visit our new representative. David said he would look into our situation. We have been contacted by his office and a letter on behalf of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Environment was brought to our attention. This letter seems to state that the Government is not interested in job protection when it comes to the environment!

David Wilks MP, seems either unable of unwilling to examine this situation any further. This can only lead us to believe that the government made no requests that the NCC should attempt to fulfill as a condition of the monies given them by the Federal Government. Most would have expected that there would have been requirements to fulfill regarding a responsibility to the community and dependant jobs. Such a requirement was indicated in the soothing comments made by Jim Abbott, MP and NCC representatives. As there were apparently no such requirements, what does this say for the talks given by these people prior to the take over?

This means that the actions of the Federal Government has cost me my job and value of the assets which I have built up over a lifetime, hundreds of thousands of dollars. I don't get any recognition of this forced donation to the NCC or the environment. No, not even a thanks... Angry

Is there anyone who would not think I would love to be able to live this period of time over?!?!?

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List of items which should have been:

Most importantly, an environmental organization should never receive government subsidies to take over an industrial location!!!
The government should have appointed an ombudsman to ensure that the spirit and conditions of any agreement were met.
In the case of immanent job loss, there should have been a counseling program set up for any effected.
It is hard to imagine how the government could have fallen down so badly when they have so much help to offer some.

GET INVOLVED!

-You can have input here: Facebook Pages>>>>CLICK HERE Facebook Groups>>>CLICK HERE

KEYWORDS

Why Donate to the NCC, Nature Conservancy of Canada

Why Donate Land to the NCC, Nature Conservancy of Canada

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Human Resources, Corperate management of dismissal, termination. Human resources pitfalls, examples of, dismiss without compensation,

It is amazing how hard it is to get any facts from governments!

» Google!