Vanderhoof Councillor to lead provincial review of BC Timber Sales

The BC Government has launched a review of BC Timber Sales (BCTS) to ensure the forestry sector is continually evolving.

“Forestry in BC is in transition, and the people and communities who rely on our forests – who are bearing the brunt of ongoing challenges – want change now,” said Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar.

“That’s why I have asked Lennard Joe (CEO, BC First Nations Forestry Council), George Abbot (former BC Cabinet Minister) and Brian Frenkel (District of Vanderhoof Councillor, former UBCM president) to look at the opportunities to leverage BCTS to set BC’s forestry industry up for the next 100 years.”

The review will provide a number of recommendations on how BCTS can:

• Create forestry-sector growth, competition and diversification,
• Provide predictable and reliable market access to fibre,
• Diversify access to fibre for the manufacturing sector, including value-added facilities,
• Strengthen partnerships with First Nations and communities,
• Provide more jobs for contractors, workers, and communities,
• Lead in innovative, sustainable forest management and silviculture

Work will begin on the review immediately, with action expected to be taken within six months of launching the review.

“I’m looking forward to participating in the minister’s BCTS task force to help make recommendations to adapt the organization to the changing BC forest economy,” Frenkel said.

“Local governments, First Nations communities, primary and value-added sectors require a reliable source of timber, developed through the BCTS organization.”

“Our work to ger more value our of our forests is a top priority as we grow the BC wood manufacturing sector,” Parmar said.

“That’s why we are doubling the amount of BCTS volume that is dedicated to value-added manufacturers, from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. That’s about 1.1 million cubic metres in 2025 alone.”

BCTS manages roughly 20 per cent of the Province’s timber supply.