Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests; Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation; and George Chow, Minister of State for Trade, have issued the following joint statement in response to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s final determination in its third administrative review regarding countervailing and anti-dumping duties applied to Canada’s softwood lumber exports to the United States:

Two northern First Nations communities will have greater access to nutritious food through grants for Indigenous-led food security projects.

Government has received a report on successorship when timber harvesting rights are transferred.

A new reconciliation agreement between Stz’uminus First Nation and British Columbia establishes commitments to work together on community priorities and future land transfers, provides support for economic development, and establishes funding for future environmental remediation activities in Ladysmith Harbour.

The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation will see greater forest stewardship benefits and exclusive harvesting rights to timber resources on the Nation’s territories through a First Nations Woodland Licence (FNWL) in a new forest tenure opportunity agreement, the largest such offer in British Columbia to date.

People travelling through the Kelowna International Airport (YLW) will benefit from an expansion and upgrade of the terminal, which will use mass timber through the Province's Mass Timber Demonstration Program.

The Province is releasing the third annual report on efforts to ensure B.C. is a place where the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples are respected, and First Nations, Métis and Inuit people can thrive.