The Special Committee on Timber Supply has announced visits across the province starting on June 18. They will be in Fort St. James on June 20.
The public hearings will allow for interested public to have their input into proposed solutions to the mid-term timber supply crisis.
The committee was formed to investigate and make recommendations to begin addressing timber supply issues which have been caused by the increase in annual allowable cut due to the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic. The annual allowable cut was dramatically increased to attempt to capitalize on the dead standing pine before it became unusable for merchantable timber.
As a result, it will have to be decreased, which would significantly impact supply for mills around the province.
The current provincial government has recently proposed some options for increasing the timber supply by making changes to allow for harvest in areas where it is currently not allowed, by harvesting less valuable timber, and other options.
“We plan to visit 15 communities and hold meetings in Vancouver to find
out which options First Nations, local governments, the public and stakeholders prefer,” said committee chair John Rustad.
The committee will be in Fort St. James from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on June 20 at the Music Makers Hall and in Vanderhoof on June 20 as well from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m.
To read more about the discussion paper the committee is putting forward and learn more about what they are doing, go to: www.leg.bc.ca/timbercommittee