Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson concluded that transfer of the reservoir, watershed, park lands, and some of the other Crown lands identified in the Rose Valley area would not be in the public interest, and these lands would remain Crown land.

The Province today introduced Bill 30, the Energy and Mines Statutes Amendment Act, 2012, to streamline and clarify regulations in four existing acts - the Oil and Gas Activities Act, the Utilities Commission Act, the Clean Energy Act and the Strata Property Act.

When Ron Handford, Yellowhead Mining Inc.'s executive vice-president of corporate development, was on the Premier's jobs and trade mission to Asia last fall, he spoke with executives connected with smelters, mining and trading companies in Japan, China and South Korea.

Amendments updating a number of resource-related acts were introduced today, including changes to the Occupiers Liability Act that will reduce liability concerns arising from the public use of resource roads.

Bill 25, the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2012, was introduced in the legislature today by Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond.

After a flood-related closure last summer, nearby Gwillim Lake Provincial Park is scheduled to reopen in time for the May 2012 long weekend.

The Ministry of Environment and the Stó:lo Tribal Council signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) earlier this week that addresses human-wildlife conflicts, public health and safety, and fish and wildlife resources.

Wildfire management initial attack crews based in the Robson Valley will soon be stationed in a new operations centre, thanks to capital funding announced in the 2012-13 provincial budget.