Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson has issued the following statement regarding federal Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr’s announcement of a Federal-Provincial Task Force on Softwood Lumber:

British Columbia’s fifth consecutive balanced budget delivers the dividends of a strong and diversified economy and prudent fiscal management by cutting costs for middle-class B.C. families, investing in priority programs and services, and promoting a competitive, job-creating economy.

In the 1970s a number of events occurred at the same time which led to B.C. becoming a significant supplier of softwood lumber to the U.S.

The Ministry of Advanced Education is funding partnerships that connect Aboriginal students with education and training programs in their communities. These programs provide Aboriginal learners with work-ready skills such as basic computer literacy, as well as skills needed for jobs in sectors such as construction, tourism and education.

More than 180 Aboriginal learners in the Vancouver Island – B.C. Coast Region are receiving training in their communities through programs that will prepare them for jobs in sectors such as construction, forestry and eco-tourism.

FreFlyt Industries is doing its part to help find efficiencies in the forest sector.

Beginning April 1, 2017, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations will be applying Safety Accord Forest Enterprise Certification Standard, known in the B.C. forest sector as SAFE, to specific contract areas.

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced a contractor sustainability review this morning during his address to the annual Truck Loggers Association convention in Vancouver.