Ravi Kahlon, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, has released the following statement in response to the permanent closure of the Tolko Industries lumber mill in Kelowna:

Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, will be joined by 35 senior executives from B.C. forest companies and associations as he leads his third forestry trade mission to Asia.

Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology, has issued the following statement on the release of Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey for October 2019:

Premier John Horgan met with Chief Ken Cameron of the Saulteau First Nations and Chief Roland Willson of the West Moberly First Nations on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019, to discuss moving forward with a leaders’ table to support the recovery of the endangered central group of the southern mountain caribou, while maintaining the social and economic well-being of communities in the northeast region of British Columbia.

Tree harvesting will take place on about 105 hectares of Crown land east of Cranbrook over the winter to reduce the amount of forest fuels and help lower the wildfire risk to the community.

Legislation introduced Oct. 24, 2019, by the provincial government will move the Province forward with a clear action plan for reconciliation, supporting predictability and economic opportunities, while respecting Indigenous human rights.

With many parts of British Columbia experiencing colder weather and more people lighting their fireplaces and wood stoves, residents are reminded that anyone who cuts, collects or uses firewood must ensure that it is harvested legally.