The Province has protected jobs and workers impacted by COVID-19 with an online variance application that simplified the process to extend temporary layoffs, resulting in the approval of more than 500 variances that protect more than 9,100 jobs across a variety of economic sectors.

British Columbia is leading the way in clean technology with companies developing clean energy projects funded through the Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund.

The B.C. government and Coastal First Nations, an alliance of eight First Nations on the north and central coast and Haida Gwaii, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to continue and expand their work to protect the environment and boost the regional economy.

Cindy Stern and Gail Wallin have been appointed to the Forest Practices Board for three-year terms.

With funding from the B.C. government, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation has approved seven more projects that will help restore caribou habitat in British Columbia, through the organization’s Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund.

Effective immediately, Diane Nicholls, British Columbia’s chief forester, has set the new allowable annual cut for Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 26 near Mission to 60,000 cubic metres.

To further support B.C.’s mining, forestry and other industries impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of British Columbia and BC Hydro are extending the opportunity for companies to defer electricity bill payments for another three months.

Premier John Horgan has appointed Ravi Kahlon, Parliamentary Secretary for Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, to lead the expansion and use of mass timber in B.C. buildings.