Chief Harrison Dickie will make announcement in April on the sale of OSB plant

Rumours have been circulating for several weeks that the oriented  strand board plant is being sold by Canfor.

This week Fort Nelson First Nation confirmed in its newsletter that Chief Harrison Dickie has met with the Vancouver based Stern Group to discuss the Medzih Action Plan presented by the band with a view to acquiring 1 million cubic metres of wood. (About the same allocations as the Tackama and OSB mills utilized.)

Much of the discussion remains behind closed doors and Mayor Streeper remains quiet on the process which, Chief Dickie said has been very positive though “There are some risks that the Fort Nelson First Nation will need to decide on.”

The Stern Group has not responded to our request for comment.

Once the due diligence is done a detailed presentation to the community will be made in mid-April. “We need to assess the risks versus reward of pursuing partnerships and benefits for Fort Nelson First Nation, its members and their owned businesses,” Dickie said.

The Stern Group  was founded approximately 30 years ago by Ronald N. Stern, Stern Partners is based in Vancouver, Canada, with the head offices of is independently managed operating businesses located primarily throughout North America.

Stern Partners is a lead investor in a diverse range of operating companies. Including the Alberta Newsprint Company in Whitecourt, Alberta. Currently Stern own s 22 companies which are operated and managed independently, generating total revenues of over $1.75 billion and collectively employing 7,000 people.

It has  built a reputation as a committed long-term investor dedicated to growth and value creation.  “We do not generally make investments for a predetermined term or based on a fixed liquidity target.  Rather, our focus is on the quality of the business and its management – not the exit strategy the company states on its website.”

Mr. Stern, a lawyer, is the founder and President of Stern Partners. Since 1989, Mr. Stern has devoted his full time to the management of his business interests._

Mr. Stern serves, or has served, on a variety of corporate and community boards, including the Vancouver Airport Authority, the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, the Vancouver General Hospital and University of British Columbia Hospital Foundation, the Vancouver Symphony Society, the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy, and Science World British Columbia.

Another member of the group is Jack Austin. He has acted as a senior advisor to the Stern Group, and is an honorary professor at the University of British Columbia’s Institute of Asian Research.

Austin’s long interest in Canada and the world compelled him to study international law and international trade law. His interest in governance and public policy led him to serve in the cabinets of former prime ministers Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Paul Martin. In 1975, he was appointed to the Senate, where he served for 32 years. Austin has played a key role in building Canada’s relationship with the Asia-Pacific region. In 1971, he was a member of the Trudeau government’s first official visit to China and as a member of cabinet, Austin developed legislation to establish the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada which came into law in June 1984. He served as president of the Canada China Business Council from 1993 to 2000, and for the following three years as vice-chairman. As the creator of Team Canada trade missions, he revolutionized Canada’s relationship with China, and founded the Canada China Legislative Association. Closer to home, Mexico awarded its highest honour for a non-citizen, the Order of the Aztec Eagle, to Austin in recognition of his role in trade negotiations. Austin’s efforts to secure federal funding for Expo ’86 started a transformation of the city of Vancouver. His work helped make way for landmark sites such as Canada Place, the Convention Centre and the cruise ship terminal, all of which laid the foundation for Vancouver’s successful 2010 Olympic bid.

Numerous major initiatives in B.C. benefited from Austin’s expertise, including the northeast coal development, the Nisga’a treaty negotiations and the Pacific Gateway Strategy. Since retiring from the Senate in 2007, Austin has acted as a senior advisor to the Stern Group, and is an honorary professor at the University of British Columbia’s Institute of Asian Research.

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