Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett is sitting on the Special Committee on Timber Supply to examine and make recommendations about mid-term timber supply in British Columbia, as a result of the mountain pine beetle infestation.
Barnett says she is pleased to be on the committee because she was involved with the formation of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition, which was formed in 2005, from day 1.
She sat as chair and vice-chair of the initial group that had foreseen the events that are happening today, so she is well aware of the situation and issues.
The committee will be conducting public consultations and has been asked to deliver a report by Aug. 15.
The committee's terms of reference are to specifically consider recommendations that could increase timber supply, including direction on the potential scope of changes to land-use objectives, rate of harvest and conversion of volume-based tenures to area-based tenures.
Says Barnett: “I think it’s going to be a challenging couple of months. However, I think it’s great we’re going to go out and talk to as many people as we possibly can in the pine beetle areas, which is about three-quarters of the province in my estimation.”
A 24-page confidential mid-term timber supply report, which was mistakenly made public on the Internet last month and quickly became the focus of discussion and debate by independent Cariboo North MLA Bob Simpson, analyzed four timber supply areas: Quesnel, Williams Lake, Prince George and Lakes.
100 Mile House timber supply area was not analyzed because the report only dealt with the four worst areas in the province.
For the Quesnel and Prince George forest districts, the report states: “Under current lumber market conditions, it is uneconomical to harvest dead pine located at long haul distances from the mills. Licensees have indicated that the economic supply of dead pine varies from 1.5 years in Quesnel TSA to about five years in the Prince George TSA.”
Barnett says these are the first areas the new committee will deal with first because they are the hardest hit.
“We’ll be sending out invitations to everyone in specific areas that we can think of. We’ll have a website so people can put in their comments.
“We’re going to be communicating with as many people who are being affected as possible.”
Noting the committee had a short meeting on May 18, Barnett says she is not sure of what the input-gathering process is going to look like, but it should be nailed down in a couple of weeks.
“Once we get consultation-process format organized, we’ll make that public. This has to be a very broad consultation because we have many issues of the land base, and none of us wants to exclude anybody.”
Regarding one of the specific terms of reference that could increase timber supply: “including direction on the potential scope of changes to land-use objectives,” Barnett says those are the issues the committee wants to hear from the public about.
“There’s nothing saying we’re going to change anything in land-use plans, but everything is on the table and open for discussion.”
If people are going to go into opening up land-use plans, Barnett notes they are covered by legislation and would have to be dealt with accordingly.
“That’s going to be a huge discussion. You have to keep your mind open and listen to everybody.”
She adds the all-party committee is going into the discussion with open minds.
“We’re out there to listen, to gather data and put a report back to government.”
The committee will also consider whether any changes to legislation are required.
In making its recommendations, the committee will need to consider:
• The Province's commitment to balance the budget and maintain competitive electricity rates.
• The need to maintain high environmental standards and protect critical wildlife habitat.
• The orderly transition for communities to lower harvest levels.
• Maintain a competitive forest industry.
• First Nations' titles and rights.
• The softwood lumber agreement and other trade agreements.