A 20-acre parcel of the 303-acre Canfor Pulp mill property in Prince George has been re-classified as light industry by the Property Assessment Appeal Board. Canfor leased the parcel to Arbios Biotech Canada Limited Partnership to build a demonstration plant to convert wood waste and woody biomass into bio oil. In the 2023 taxation year, the Assessor of Area 26 deemed it a major industry property. A central issue of Canfor’s appeal was whether bio-oil meets the definition of a chemical. A lawyer for the Assessor argued that the facility is similar to plants classified as major industrial. Canfor argued the facility has similarities to plants like those that produce wood pellets, which are classified as light industry. Panel chair Robert Wickett and panel member Fiona Anderson found, in their Sept. 11 decision, that the facility should be reclassified.