Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson is leading a delegation of more than 25 senior executives from B.C.’s forest companies and associations to Japan and China from Nov. 24 to Dec. 3, 2016.

Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s preliminary determination to eliminate duties on Catalyst’s exports of supercalendared paper:

Proposed changes to fishing regulations for the 2017-2019 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis are now available for public comment and feedback. A complete list and description of the proposed regulations can be viewed online at: http://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/pub/ahte/

In response to the second intake of the $75-million BC Rural Dividend, 289 applications were received from communities, not-for-profit associations and First Nations throughout the province.

Premier Christy Clark will be the first Premier in over 40 years to attend an official function at Buckingham Palace. She will be attending The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy Initiative recognition ceremony.

Comments are being accepted until Jan. 16, 2017, on a discussion paper released as part of a comprehensive timber supply review for the Arrowsmith Timber Supply Area.

The nomination period for South Asian Canadian historic places has been extended to Nov. 30, 2016, to allow more opportunity for the public to submit nominations.

Oct. 23-29, 2016, is Hungarian Cultural Week in British Columbia, acknowledging the role and contributions Hungarian refugees have made economically, socially and culturally to the province.

Rural communities working to develop projects are reminded that the submission deadline for the second intake of applications under the BC Rural Dividend is Monday, Oct. 31, 2016.