Government, the forest industry, organized labour and WorkSafeBC have issued the following statement today following their March 28 meeting in Vancouver focused on combustible dust and sawmill safety:

FrontCounter BC will begin processing fish, wildlife and park use permit applications through their 29 regional locations effective April 1.

The Province has signed a community forest agreement with the City of Williams Lake and the Williams Lake Indian Band, enhancing economic opportunities and forest stewardship in the Central Cariboo, Forests.

The Province is accepting bids on a new woodlot licence near Wonowon, 83 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John, in a move that will generate new job opportunities across the region, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced today.

The Province is accepting bids on a new woodlot licence 95 kilometres northwest of Dawson Creek, in a move that will eventually generate new job opportunities across the region.

The province has changed the way it does business to help First Nations and community forest tenure holders sell their timber at fair market price and add to the data that supports timber pricing, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced today.

Another milestone was reached with environmental groups and forest companies jointly submitting proposals to increase conservation, while maintaining economic activity in the Great Bear Rainforest.

Comments are being accepted until March 17, 2014, on a public discussion paper released as part of a comprehensive timber supply review for the Williams Lake Timber Supply Area.

After 10 months, the value of B.C.'s softwood lumber exports have broken a new record.