Forest and Environment News:

Upcoming Legislation in Force – The Wildfire Act and the Wildfire Regulation are coming into force on March 31, 2005. Quickscribe has posted [PREVIEW] versions for your convenience. The Range Act also comes into force March 31, 2005; Quickscribe will have it available on line shortly.

Initial Canadian Proposal for a Resolution of the Softwood Lumber Dispute – The British Columbia Lumber Trade Council has posted a draft of the Initial Canadian Proposal dated March 8, 2005.

Province Releases First-Ever State Of Forests Report – The Province recently released its first report on the state of B.C.’s forests, providing readers with objective condition and management information and assessments of implications for sustainability. The report provides statistical information on six indicators of sustainability: ecosystem diversity, protected forests, timber harvest, First Nations involvement, law and certification. Two future editions of the report are planned to address another 18 indicators, including species diversity, greenhouse gases, ownership and management, and jobs and communities. For more information see The State of British Columbia’s Forests – 2004.

Province Increases Funding For Forest Transition – The Government recently passed legislation to increase the B.C. Forestry Revitalization Trust Fund by $50 million to assist workers and contractors in the transition to a more diversified forest economy. The legislation also increased the funds available for compensation of forest companies for lost logging rights and improvements such as roads and bridges by $50 million. See The B.C. Forestry Revitalization Trust.

Timber Pricing Changes – Timber pricing changes in the Kalum and Skeena-Stikine forest districts to better reflect the low volume of lumber recovered from over-mature hemlock and balsam trees, will take effect April 1. These pricing changes recognize the true characteristics of older hemlock and balsam trees harvested in the unique ecological ‘transition’ zone between the northern coastline and the interior plateau regions of our province. See the Information Bulletin.

Labour and Company News:

Online Service Improves Access To Court Records – A new electronic court registry will provide easy access to B.C.’s civil court registry through the Internet. Court Services Online E-search will allow searches of civil court proceedings filed in any registry of the B.C. Supreme Court and the B.C. provincial court electronically. For a fee of $6 per transaction, users can access, search and file court documents from any registry in the province. Court Services Online is a voluntary service and court registry clients will continue to have the option of conducting business at the registry. See Court Services Online.

Local Government News:

$400M To Support Communities, Oil and Gas Development – Communities in northeast B.C. will continue to benefit from the growing oil and gas sector through improved infrastructure, year-round employment and new business opportunities as a result of four new programs and over $400 million in funding, Energy and Mines Minister Richard Neufeld announced recently. Also announced was additional funding for the Heartlands Oil and Gas Resource Roads Strategy, a five-year investment initiative in northeast B.C.’s public roads. The $32.5 million in year two funding announced will greatly improve public roads and allow industry to operate in areas that might have been off limits due to seasonal road bans. This partnership with the Ministry of Transportation has already seen almost $18 million in new construction and planning for roads in the north and south Peace region in 2004/2005. See the Information Bulletin.

Disaster Financial Assistance Funds Increased – Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) funds are being increased to help British Columbians who suffered from the extreme weather in January, which caused floods, landslides and mudslides. DFA provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners, residential tenants, farms, small businesses and charitable organizations where uninsurable property is damaged or destroyed by disasters. Currently, the amount of DFA payable is 80 per cent of the accepted claim over $1,000 to a maximum payable of $100,000 for all eligible costs. Retroactive to Jan. 1, 2005, the maximum payable is $300,000. This includes the cost to repair, rebuild, replace or relocate essential structures, the clean-up or removal of debris and replacement of essential contents. Other DFA costs can include personal effects and removal and storage of items. There is no maximum limit to local governments. For more information go to the Provincial Emergency Program website.