Forest and Environment News:

$1 Million To Strengthen Value-Added Wood Industry — The provincial government recently announced an expanded program to help value-added wood product manufacturers update their business planning, technology and marketing activities. The value-added program will provide over 700 wood product companies in B.C. with access to advisory services for business development and expansion. The program is a partnership between BC Wood and FP Innovations (Forintek division), a research agency managed by Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd. (FII). FII has also provided another $12 million to help trade associations and others conduct 56 projects this year to market B.C.’s wood, and to develop markets internationally. This work includes $1.59 million for mountain pine beetle-related projects. See News Release.

Mountain Pine Beetle News:
Bark Beetles Benefit From Bad Storms — After a severe wind or ice storm breaks and topples trees, the fallen debris can end up incubating an epidemic of tree-boring insects. A synthesis of published research finds that bark beetles and long-horned beetles are the insects most capable of producing a population explosion after a destructive storm hits a forest. See Article by Current Results.

From the Canadian Government: $2.8 Million for Community Safety Initiatives — It was recently announced that the Mountain Pine Beetle Program will deliver more than $2.8 million to help communities, including First Nations, deal with public safety issues resulting from the unprecedented beetle infestation in British Columbia. See News Release. Mineral Exploration will be Funded in Areas Impacted by Mountain Pine Beetle — Steps to aid new mine and energy projects in British Columbia were announced as part of Canada's Mountain Pine Beetle Program, a multi-pronged approach to address the economic impacts of the beetle infestation. See New Release.

From the Provincial Government: Pine Beetle Effects On Future Timber Supply Analyzed — Updated analysis and the latest information on B.C.’s mountain pine beetle infestation is provided in a new timber supply report released recently. The new report Timber Supply and the Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation in British Columbia: 2007 Update is a collective analysis of the 20 most affected Timber Supply Areas in the infestation zone. The report is available online at Report or see the News Release.

Labour and Company News:

As announced by BC Registry Services effective fall 2007, amendments passed earlier this year to the Business Corporations Act to allow for unlimited liability companies, along with amendments to the Business Corporations Regulation, to set out prescribed requirements referred to in the Business Corporations Act, will be brought into force. No specific dates have been announced. These changes will provide the statutory framework for the creation of unlimited liability companies. For information on unlimited liability companies refer to 2007 Bill 14 Finance Statutes Amendment Act, 2007. In particular, refer to section 13, adding Part 2.1 - Unlimited Liability Companies and section 33 listing the fees for unlimited liability companies.

Local Government News:

B.C. Communities Commit to Carbon Neutrality by 2012 — Local governments from across B.C. signed a Climate Action Charter with the Province and the Union of BC Municipalities recently, committing to a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2012. Sixty-two communities signed the Charter during Wednesday’s UBCM session in Vancouver. In addition to a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2012, local governments pledged to measure and report on their community’s greenhouse gas emissions profile and work to create compact, more energy efficient communities. See News Release.

Staples McDannold Stewart has posted the Summer 2007 issue of their LoGo NoteBook which includes an article on "Giving Reasons for Local Government Decisions", see the LoGo Notebook.