National

B.C. sets aside some timber supply for value-added

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 24 Jan, 2023 06:06 PM

DELTA, B.C. - The British Columbia government is launching a new program that will ensure dedicated access to the provincial timber supply for secondary manufacturers that make value-added products.

Forests Minister Bruce Ralston says the goal is to build a stronger, more resilient forest industry with value-added products such as mass timber, plywood, veneer, panelling and flooring.

Thank you @CoastlandWood for the tour and for hosting many industry leaders today. It is great to see a #BC business growing and expanding. @ILAlogger @IWPABC @JakePowerWood @BrendaBaileyBC (3/3) pic.twitter.com/8iqmsr23P7
— Bruce Ralston (@BruceRalston) January 24, 2023

The government says in a statement that those products are increasingly in demand as alternatives to carbon-intensive construction products such as cement, resulting in steady job growth in the province.

The statement says the program will be restricted to those facilities that have minimal or no forestry tenure and are approved as a value-added manufacturer.

Figures show overall harvest levels in the forest industry in B.C. have decreased in the past decade, but employment in the value-added sector has grown by about 35 per cent since 2012.

Paul Rasmussen, with the Interior Lumber Manufacturers' Association, says they're encouraged to see the government recognize that a dedicated fibre allocation for the value-added sector is required.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Humanitarian claim blamed for Russian flight

Aeroflot Flight 111 entered Canadian airspace on Feb. 27 after the federal government had banned all Russian aircraft earlier that day in retaliation for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Humanitarian claim blamed for Russian flight

Canada urges WHO to approve Medicago vaccine

Fewer than two million doses were shipped out this year and Sajjan says more can go as soon as recipient countries indicate they're ready for them.

Canada urges WHO to approve Medicago vaccine

More sanctions coming against Russia: Joly

With further details on sanctions to come later this week, Joly told reporters Ottawa will do everything in its power to ensure Russia is isolated diplomatically, economically and politically, while providing Ukraine with weapons.

More sanctions coming against Russia: Joly

Feds must do more to combat racism, groups say

Fareed Khan, founder of Canadians United Against Hate, says the government needs to start by acknowledging that the country and its institutions were built upon Indigenous genocide, slavery and white supremacy.

Feds must do more to combat racism, groups say

Woman says she saw a man allegedly pulling down a young child's pants at a local business

According to the complainant, she was in a parent monitoring room of a local business when she observed a man allegedly pulling down a young child’s pants. The complainant viewed the incident through a television, which cycles through surveillance from various cameras located throughout the business.

Woman says she saw a man allegedly pulling down a young child's pants at a local business

VPD arrests suspect in Granville SkyTrain assault

VPD investigators now believe the victim and suspect had a brief verbal confrontation outside the station, and that the suspect followed the victim into the station, pushed him down a set of stairs, kicked him, and fled before police were called.