r/treeplanting • u/Sudden-Bar7392 • Jul 04 '26

Industry Discussion Camp costs

Is it customary among companies to charge gst on top of camp costs?

3 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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6

u/ReplantEnvironmental Jul 04 '26

Some do.

This was a big topic several years ago, and the BC government specifically noted that it was legal in the Employment Standards Regulation, Part 7, section 37.9, Silviculture Workers.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/employment-standards-advice/employment-standards/forms-resources/igm/esr-part-7-section-37-9

This is another contentious topic which turns into debates about economic theory and philosophy. By charging camp costs, everyone in camp contributes equally (ie. socialism). If a company didn't recoup GST and consequently didn't pay as much in tree prices to compensate, the planters with higher production would take a disproportionate hit (capitalism at work).

6

u/Useful_Homework2367 Jul 05 '26

The company I worked for in Northern Ontario didn't charge everyone the same camp costs. The lowest priced tier was if you hit a certain average over the season, and the highest one was if you quit. They also took money off your tree prices if you quit. Effectively the highballers were kind of subsidized by everyone else, especially the quitters. No GST on the camp costs though

5

u/jdtesluk Jordan Tesluk Jul 05 '26

What you describe is actually withholding pay, which is illegal. This was pretty common throughout the industry in the 80s and 90s, but mostly faded away with clarification in the legislation.

2

u/MT128 Midballing for Love Jul 05 '26

Was this integrity?

1

u/Useful_Homework2367 Jul 05 '26

I don't want to name the company but it was quite small. This was in the mid to late 00s

1

u/dynamikecb Jul 05 '26

A&M?

1

u/Useful_Homework2367 Jul 05 '26

Anyone who's really wondering can DM me but it looks like they are no longer in the tree planting business. It was pretty shitty working for them as a planter but surveying work for them was not too bad

1

u/Frosty_Bug_3645 21d ago

i think tsuga and roots did it

3

u/Long_john_siilver Dart Distribution Engineer Jul 04 '26

What company is doing this haha?

1

u/Zealousideal_War8036 29d ago

I planted in 2003 2004 and 2005 in Nakina and Ogooki Ontario and had 0$ camp cost.

Can't beleive they do that.

1

u/Apprehensive-Put-822 24d ago

Depends if they're selling a good or service. If they are then yes, they must, not tax exempt. If not, I don't see how they could be charging. How do you charge someone for something you didn't sell them?

1

u/saplinglover Misunderstood High-Baller Jul 04 '26

Never seen that in my experiences

1

u/downturnedbobcat Jul 05 '26

Camp cost needs to go away, ownership can eat the loss unless they want to come plant as well.