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:

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is implementing its Williams Lake Beetle Management Unit 2016 Treatment Plan to minimize the spread of Douglas-fir beetles on Crown land in the Williams Lake area.

Wildfires are rare in B.C. at this time of year, but the smoke from legal, registered open burns is often mistaken for smoke from a wildfire. This is especially true in late fall when such fires are often lit to dispose of vegetation and wood debris.

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/

Effective Nov. 17, 2016, new scenic area and visual quality objectives have been established, under the Forest and Range Practices Act, in the Shannon Creek watershed portion of the Sea to Sky Natural Resource District.

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.