90-DAY FORESTRY REGULATORY REVIEW ACTIONS IDENTIFIED

VICTORIA – The 90-day forestry regulatory review has identified four major steps that will enable government to immediately cut red tape to help the forest industry, Forests and Range Minister Rich Coleman announced today.

“Government has made substantive changes to the forest regulations and policy since 2001 to increase competitiveness in the forest sector,” said Coleman. “We will continue to look for ways to help our forest industry, both short-term and long-term.”

The forestry regulatory review was established to streamline red tape and cut processing time. Over 540 submissions were received from the forest industry covering 26 subject areas, ranging from quick fixes to major legislative initiatives. The next steps emerging from the forestry regulatory review are:

1. Implement initiatives that do not require legislative change or further consultation as soon as possible.

2. Consult with the forest industry in the next 30 days about additional actions that can be taken to assist the industry.

3. Consider changes to First Nations’ forest tenures.

4. Prepare legislative changes for longer-term proposals.

Examples of actions that will be implemented immediately are:

· Establishing defined faster approval times for cutting permits and road permits

· Ensuring all forest districts can accept and approve digital only files of plans and permits

· Recognizing new Ecosystem Based Management costs incurred by the coastal industry in stumpage rates

A full list of immediate actions is in the attached backgrounder.

The 90-day regulatory review was a comprehensive process that examined legislation, regulations, policies and processes affecting the forest industry. More than 56 companies, associations and individuals submitted proposals.

“Government continues to listen to our concerns and we’re looking forward to working together over the next 30 days on prioritizing further actions,” said John Allan, president of the Council of Forest Industries.

Premier Gordon Campbell announced the 90-day forestry regulatory review in January to identify opportunities to streamline and reduce unnecessary red tape, cut processing time, and eliminate unnecessary cost burdens resulting from regulation.

B.C.’s forest industry is currently experiencing one of the worst cyclical downturns in its history. The industry has been hurt by the strong Canadian dollar, a weak U.S. housing market in the wake of the sub-prime mortgage crisis, and low lumber prices. The U.S. represents 87 per cent of the market for B.C. lumber.

In British Columbia, forestry represents seven per cent of the province’s gross domestic product and directly supports about 85,000 jobs in over 100 communities.

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1 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Sophia Proctor Public Affairs Bureau 250 387-4592

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