The B.C. government is changing the rules for timber licences, requiring provincial permission for companies to trade or dispose of cutting rights.

Forests Minister Doug Donaldson to the Forest Act Thursday to restrict companiesB次元官网网址� ability to trade or sell Crown timber licences, to B次元官网网址減revent further concentration of harvesting rights.B次元官网网址� The change is part of Premier John HorganB次元官网网址檚 promised revitalization of the forest industry, which has seen forest companies consolidate and close sawmills.

B次元官网网址淭o approve the transfer, we will first want to understand how it will help the people in British Columbia and encourage diversity in the forest sector,B次元官网网址� Donaldson told the legislature.

Premier describes his new approach to the forest industry

B次元官网网址� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)

One of those transfers took place in 2014, in the wake of reduced timber supply caused by widespread mountain pine beetle infestation in the B.C. Interior. West Fraser Mills closed its high-volume sawmill at Houston and Canfor shut down its Quesnel mill, as harvestable dead wood diminished.

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The two companies traded timber cutting rights to keep one mill supplied in each region.

Donaldson said a key part of the strategy is to provide more economic opportunity for Indigenous communities.

On the B.C. Coast, the historic concentration of cutting rights in the hands of a few big players has been focus for the Truck LoggersB次元官网网址� Association, as logging contractors struggle to remain viable in a market battered by mill closures, U.S. border tariffs and swings in demand from Asian buyers.

B次元官网网址淲e want all British Columbians to benefit from the forest industry, large and small, first nations, workers and communities,B次元官网网址� Donaldson said. B次元官网网址淭he previous legislation governing disposition of crown tenures limited governmentB次元官网网址檚 influence.B次元官网网址�

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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