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.

Effective immediately, the allowable annual cut for Tree Farm Licence 35 will be 125,000 cubic metres, chief forester Jim Snetsinger announced today.

Effective immediately, the new allowable annual cut for the Okanagan timber supply area will decrease from 3.375 million cubic metres to 3.1 million cubic metres, chief forester Jim Snetsinger announced.

Over the next few weeks, staff from the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation will begin to consult and work directly with a team of community leaders and tourism stakeholders from Burns Lake on tourism planning to strengthen economic opportunities for the area.

Effective immediately, the new allowable annual cut for Tree Farm Licence 49 will be decreased from 580,000 cubic metres to 330,000 cubic metres, chief forester Jim Snetsinger announced today.

The value of British Columbia's softwood lumber exports to China jumped 60 per cent in 2011, surpassing the $1-billion mark for the first time. Since 2003, lumber exports to China have risen by more than 1,500 per cent.

Today marked the first major step in Burns Lake's road to recovery after the destruction of the Babine Forest Products mill, thanks to a jobs fair with 24 participant booths and maximum capacity attendance from the community.