This week, over 700 business, government, First Nations and community leaders have gathered in Vancouver for the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) annual convention. Greg Stewart, President, Sinclar Group Forest Products and COFI Chair opened the conference by welcoming the many provincial, municipal, First Nation and industry leaders present. Referencing the sector’s current challenges, Stewart said, “this is a pivotal time for the sector because there is no going back. Our collective focus is on what we need to do differently to reshape the industry in the short and long term”. Noting that there are a lot of complex and difficult issues on our plate, Stewart said, ” we need to prioritize our actions and hopefully—by tomorrow when Premier Eby arrives—all be on the same page”.

Stewart introduced Squamish First Nation representatives, who welcomed the delegates to their unceded territory and spoke of their Nations’ unique and long history in the area. Welcoming the delegates on behalf of the host city was Vancouver Councillor Lisa Dominato. Referencing statistics from the economic impact study released by COFI, Dominato spoke of the forest industry’s significant contribution to Vancouver and noted “the importance of talking to the public about this import given that it helps the city meet their goals and bridge the rural/urban divide.

Regional Chief, BC Assembly of First Nations Terry Teegee provided the opening keynote talking about the importance of shared decision making, emphasizing the path forward for the forest industry will be in partnerships that are rooted in free, prior and informed consent through processes that adhere to UNDRIPA. In the Q&A with Shannon Janzen, Chief Teegee talked about how “UNDRIPA can be the path to certainty for the industry, creating the space needed to make the decisions”. With respect to potential disputes, Teegee agrees that there is a need for a dispute resolution process. He said First Nations communities want to be a part of the economy and more First Nations are thinking about opportunities, such as utilizing fibre for energy and creating value added products. 

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