The Burns Lake Community Forest (BLCF) has announced that it will distribute funds to its stakeholders: the Village of Burns Lake (VBL), the Burns Lake Band (BLB), and the Wet'suwet'en First Nation (WFN).
The three stakeholders will share $1.5 million according to an existing profit distribution model.
The Village of Burns Lake will receive 64 per cent, BLB will receive 18 per cent and WFN will receive 18 per cent.
There hasn't been a regular public meeting of BLCF board of directors since April 25, 2013, but the board has been working on restructuring BLCF operations.
According to the VBL press release announcing the funding distribution, 'The three governments will be meeting in the coming months to discuss restructuring in detail.'
After this meeting of governments, the BLCF should be in a position to have the direction it needs to be able to complete restructuring sometime in 2014.
Albert Gerow, BLB Chief, said,“These funds will be of benefit to all of our communities, and we are very happy to see them being distributed.”
Karen Ogen, WFN Chief, said, “Coming to a mutually beneficial agreement with the stakeholders of [BLCF} shows our potential for future collaborative efforts for the benefit of the community.