David Eby, Premier of British Columbia, delivered the final keynote at last week’s BC Council of Forest Industries annual convention in Vancouver, followed by a Q&A moderated by COFI’s Linda Coady. Quoting from the recently released Forest Industry Economic Impact Study, Premier Eby noted the significant contribution the forest sector makes to the province, but also the ‘perfect storm’ of issues it currently faces. Eby also noted many positives, including the fact that forests and forest products are increasing viewed as part of the solution to climate change world-wide, as well as his government’s actions to address industry’s need for reliable fibre supply and stability on the policy front. He spoke of education and training actions taken to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season, and support for the emerging industry, community and First Nation partnerships.
In the Q&A, Eby and Coady discussed how the forest sector touches on so many areas of import to the province. Coady emphasized the import of identifying solutions and expressed appreciation for government’s recognition of industry’s concerns on fibre supply and the rapid rate of policy change. In response to her question on how the premier “sees the forest industry’s future”, Eby opined on wood’s positive and prominent role as a climate solution and the government’s two-pronged approach of working to increase fibre availability in the short term via interim pieces, such as the regulatory change to allow quick recovery of timber from wildfires, new investments via the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, and agreements on specific First Nation grievances; while at the same time pursuing land use planning and First Nation partnerships to provide long term fibre certainty. In response to other questions from Coady and the delegates in the room, Eby spoke positively on matters such as the potential of active forest management to help reduce wildfire risk, new agreements with individual or collective First Nations and working with industry to co-develop and implement plan elements.
Linda Coady and Greg Stewart, COFI Chair delivered the closing remarks to wrap the conference. Next Year’s conference will be help in Prince George, BC [more COFI highlights will follow in the days to come]