File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

FORESTRY CHANGES

B.C. forests critic questions need for legislative and not policy changes around forestry

Mar 31, 2026 | 5:03 PM

KAMLOOPS — The BC NDP government has announced legislative changes it says will expand timber sales and increase harvest volumes in the province.

The new legislation, if approved, is anticipated to increase B.C.’s fibre supply by as much as 800,000 cubic metres. 

“Our path forward for forestry means a BC Timber Sales that moves fibre faster, creates more opportunities for workers and contractors and ensures local logs go to local mills,” said Ravi Parmar, minister of forests. “These changes matter. They matter to the workers grinding it out every day in the bush, they matter to the worker on the mill line who will see a steady stream of timber, and they matter to the local companies and communities who will be able to access the fibre they need.”

Forests Critic Ward Stamer noted 800,000 cubic metres doesn’t equate to much overall, and questioned why the changes aren’t being done through regulation and policy.

The Creative Edge

PEARCE: Beyond fear - how schools can support safety

23h ago

Question of the Week

Will the election of Avi Lewis as NDP leader improve the party's chances in the next federal election?

Mar 30, 2026

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: March 30, 2026

Mar 30, 2026

“It’s not just an amendment to an existing (law), it’s legislative changes,” said the Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Stamer. “And normally, that means there is something else in here that they are either not telling us about or there is a dramatic shift in what the organization is actually supposed to accomplish. That is important to us, because at the end of the day we still need to be able to derive an income from BCTS.”

The new legislation speaks to the fast-tracking of salvaging damaged trees from conditions like wildfire, in addition to forest stewardship across the province.

“The new streamlined licence opportunity will increase the amount of recoverable wood and speed up access to better support mills throughout the province, especially the pulp sector. This will provide more fibre and create more opportunities for contractors while reducing wildfire risk and contributing to healthier forest conditions. New salvage licences are expected to deliver up to an additional 500,000 cubic metres of fibre (approximately 11,100 truck loads) to market,” reads a government press release. 

“Our members do not hold timber tenures. Instead, they purchase fibre from the open market,” said Brian Menzies, executive director of the Independent Wood Processors Association. “These changes will enhance access to market-priced wood fibre, foster innovation and support well-paying jobs – and represent an important first step in implementing BCTS review recommendations to boost value-added manufacturing in British Columbia.”

While the moves may be a net positive, Stamer is worried it won’t be enough to effect real change.

“It’s great to just tinker around the sides but there are some structural changes that we need to make and they seem to be very reluctant to do it. Yes, it’s great that the BCTS is going to be morphing into do more thinning, commercial thinning, maybe some more extensive reforestation projects. Having a bit more flexibility in being able to do it with their business plan. But again many of us believe that should be achievable with policy and regulation changes, not the law,” said Stamer.