The Mid Island Forestry Initiative has the potential to unlock 3,200 hectares of timber for harvest, create forestry jobs and provide a guaranteed flow of timber for mill operations for years to come.
The party that forms the next government still has to sign onto the deal.
Douglas White, Councillor and Chief Negotiator for the Snuneymuxw First Nation says the Initiative would see some of the last remaining Crown land blocks with forestry potential on Mount Benson and Mount McKay opened up to logging….
He says the Crown land blocks have been in a holding pattern for decades because of the complexities of reconciliation so this Initiative is ground-breaking.
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The Sunshine Coast Regional District is concerned about some of the plans that BC Timber Sales has presented for the community.
Ian Hall, GM of Planning and Community Development says the plan covers a lot of the rural areas and there are concerns ranging from protection of the community watershed and recreational uses.
The referral process is done on May 24th, but Hall believes the dialogue that BC Timber Sales will have with the community could continue beyond that.
He says the regional district will look to support that dialogue, but the ultimately, it would be a BC Timber Sales lead conversation.
