Survey: B.C. Lags Behind Other Provinces in
Attractiveness to Mining Sector
Alberta and Saskatchewan are among the three most attractive jurisdictions in the world for mineral exploration and development, according to the Fraser Institute's annual survey of mining executives.

"B.C. continues to be viewed poorly, with respondents citing land claims issues, environmental uncertainty, and political turmoil at the provincial level as reasons to remain hesitant about investing in British Columbia," said Fred McMahon, the institute's vice-president of international policy research. See the full story as posted by the Vancouver Sun.

New Round of Credits Keep Oil and Gas Building in B.C.
The Province is putting up to $120 million in royalty credits on the table to spark the next round of infrastructure development in B.C.'s petroleum and natural gas sector. See the news release.

Northwest Transmission Line Project Approved
British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BC Hydro) has received an environmental assessment certificate for the proposed Northwest Transmission Line project.

The proposed $404-million project includes a new 287-kilovolt transmission line, 344-kilometres from the existing Skeena substation south of Terrace to a new substation near Bob Quinn Lake. The project would include new access roads, an upgrade to the existing Skeena substation and construction of the new Bob Quinn substation, which would incorporate 287-kilovolt line terminations and related equipment. See the news release.

NDP Front-Runners Clear on Environment, Unlike Liberals
Liberal hopefuls don't respond to policy questions, but opposition candidates propose many changes to Campbell's legacy
Two front-runners in the NDP leadership race are promising to cast aside much of Gordon Campbell's environmental legacy should either become elected premier.

The list of commitments from Adrian Dix and Mike Farnworth include opposing the Enbridge oil pipeline, increasing funding for the BC Parks system, restoring confidence in the agricultural land reserve, toughening the environmental assessment process, and questioning the need for the planned Site C hydro dam on the Peace River. See the full story as posted by the Vancouver Sun.

China Lumber Sales Set New Standard in 2010
For the first time ever, China is the number-one overseas destination for B.C. lumber in terms of value as well as volume, it was announced following a record-breaking month and year for exports to China. B.C. lumber exports to China for 2010 are valued at about $687 million, more than double the value of shipments in 2009 and, for the first time ever, exceed the value of softwood products shipped to Japan. See the full article as posted by the Council of Forest Industries.

Forest Safety Ombudsman Announces Silviculture Review
BC Forest Safety Ombudsman Roger Harris has announced he'll be conducting a review of the B.C. silviculture camp system, a move prompted by the revelation that workers suffered in squalid camp conditions near Golden last summer.

That incident led to a larger investigation of silviculture contractor Khaira Enterprises Ltd., which was last month ordered to pay 58 employees $236,500 in unpaid wages. The investigation into the company uncovered other camps where workers lived in substandard conditions, including near Revelstoke, Kamloops, Texada Island and Salmon Arm. See the full story as posted by the Revelstoke Times Review.

Ottawa will Implement Additional Export Charges for Ontario and Quebec
Canada will increase export charges on softwood lumber to the United States, the government said recently after an arbitration court ruled it had wrongly subsidized lumber exports.

The London Court of International Arbitration supported U.S. claims that Canada broke the terms of a 5-year-old agreement on bilateral lumber trade. After reviewing the decision, Canada's International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan said the tribunal ruled that "loan guarantee programs that specifically benefit the softwood lumber industry contravene the Softwood Lumber Agreement." See the full story as posted by IndustryWeek.