I am writing in response to your Sept. 25 article, North Island MLA outlines NDP’s forestry plan.
On Northern Vancouver Island, the public, not forest companies control the Crown land base. Through the 2003 Forestry Revitalization Plan, we redistributed tenure from the largest licensees in order to create more opportunities for smaller operators and First Nations.
As a result, 17 North Island First Nations have had the opportunity to participate in the forest sector. As well a strategic engagement agreement and reconciliation protocol with member bands of the Nanwakolas Tribal Council are bringing certainty to forestry operations in the area.
Clarity also needs to be provided around definition of log exports, since in some cases log exports from Tahsis are just to mills in Port Alberni or Nanaimo. Because of concerns raised around log exports, I have asked for a review of log export policy and expect to be able to announce the results later this fall.
I know the last few years have been challenging because of the global economic depression.
Our focus on Asian markets has been most helpful, because despite Darrell Wong’s optimism, most economists aren’t predicting U.S. housing starts to reach 2006 levels until at least 2016.
The forest policies this government has put in place have helped B.C.’s forest sector weather the storm and position the sector to thrive into the future.
Steve Thomson
Minister of Forests, Lands and
Natural Resource Operations
