Editor:
In response to Bob Simpson’s Feb. 7 letter to the editor in the Lakes District News, I wish to re-assure your readers that this government is not planning to privatize public forests.
The ministry’s Mid-Term Timber Supply Action Plan directly responds to all the recommendations from the bi-partisan Special Committee on Timber Supply. As you are aware, the committee’s report included recommendations specific to Hampton and Burns Lake, as well as recommendations for the larger mountain pine beetle impacted areas. The committee report and the ministry’s action plan recognize that each community is unique.
Yes, there is a publicly made commitment to introduce legislation that will enable the conversion of volume-based forest licences to area-based forest licences. Each application would be reviewed on its own merits and would only proceed with the support of the local community, First Nations, stakeholders and the public.
I invite your readers to stay up-to-date on implementation of the ministry’s mid-term timber supply action plan by visiting www.gov.bc.ca/pinebeetle. This government recognizes the importance of this issue to the Interior and will be issuing regular updates as actions are implemented.
Steve Thomson
Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations