Industry group questions 'vague scope' of new B.C. forestry council

The B.C. Council of Forest Industries (COFI) says it isn't sure why the province has created a new forestry council with a "vague scope and mandate" when there are already multiple working groups focused on the troubled resource sector.

On Thursday, the province announced the formation of the Provincial Forest Advisory Council, which it says is expected to "provide recommendations to support forest ecosystems at the same time as helping the forestry sector."

It says the move comes "amid a push to save more old-growth trees and a flagging industry as the United States threatens even further levies on Canadian softwood exports" and was created as part of its agreement with the province's two Green Party members.

However, COFI says the province already has multiple working groups, reports, reviews and initiatives that have yet to be fully implemented.

"We are not totally sure what the overall objective and need for it [the new council] is, COFI president Kim Haakstad said in an interview with CBC News.

"Now we have yet another advisory council and review that doesn't have representation from the companies that manage the sectors every day."

But the government says the new council is meant to balance environmental and economic needs, with representation from forestry professionals, educators, union and former industry officials

The new council's members include Garry Merkel in the Centre of Indigenous Land Stewardship at the University of B.C., Shannon Janzen the former vice-president of Western Forest Products, Jason Fisher of the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C. and Jeff Bromley with the United Steelworkers Wood Council, part of the United Steelworkers union which represents many forestry workers across the province.

The union has praised the creation of the council, saying that with more than 2,500 members having lost their jobs in the last decade, it is essential that workers' voices be heard in shaping the industry's future.

Green Party House leader Rob Botterell says forestry has always been a key part of the provincial economy, but its future depends on sustainable and long-term ecological stewardship. 

"This council presents an opportunity to advance bold, transformative and evidence-based actions that centre the health of our forests, support workers and communities, and ensure forest policy in B.C. is grounded in sustainability, science, and partnership with First Nations," Botterell said in a statement. 

Merkel, who co-chairs the council with Janzen, said the best way to get ahead of the evolving political, economic and ecological environment is by implementing a long-term plan that provides a predictable and stable flow of forest resources.

"When we couple sustainable land stewardship with realizing most of the value of our forest resources within British Columbia, we support an economy that relies less on this unstable external environment," he said.