BC’s key forest industry group is critical of a pre-election government effort to limit compensation to forest tenure holders when land is transferred to First Nations as part of reconciliation efforts. A confidential government briefing document and presentation leaked this week refer to a commitment to transfer 400 parcels of Crown land to First Nations. However, due to “continuing fiscal constraints,” the documents outline proposals to limit, through changes to the Forest Act, the amount of compensation owed to companies or entities that hold timber rights on those parcels. Timber companies support reconciliation efforts, understanding that “those need to happen,” but any effort to curb compensation for cutting rights is unfair to an industry struggling with so many other issues, said Kim Haakstad, CEO of the Council of Forest Industries. …“We think it is not acceptable to have us pay for these costs, especially at this time when the sector is in a deepening crisis.”
Related coverage:
- Les Leyne in the Victoria Times Colonist: Fading forest industry faces new hit
- Adam Pankratz, the National Post in MSN: David Eby’s addiction to giving away public land in secret