This page contains annotated news stories and press releases with commentary about land reform and the democratic process in British Columbia. Our comments are shown in red.
Small Communities Wildfire Protection Rules Clarified in New Legislation
Mar 05, 2008Amendments have been introduced to forestry legislation to clarify
wildfire protection rules in rural communities and to help First
Nations
in accessing timber for domestic use.
Rich Coleman,
Minister of Forests and Range says the changes wil have a dual impact
""We are responding to rural communities who want to ensure the highest
standards for fire protection apply in their areas. We're also
responding to the needs of First Nations who wish to harvest timber
for domestic use, such as building their own homes."
Bill 8, the
Forests and Range Statutes Amendment Act, 2008, proposes amendments to
strengthen wildfire protection for communities by ensuring that strong
local bylaws or the Wildfire Act apply in areas regulated by local
governments.
The bill also updates the Forest Act's provisions
for free use permits to assist First Nations in accessing timber for
domestic purposes, a right established by the Supreme Court of Canada.
The proposed amendments also provide updates in a number of operational and administrative areas:
- furthering the objectives of the Forestry Revitalization Plan by giving BC Timber Sales greater flexibility to pursue new opportunities;
- ensuring
forest licensees consistently report to government in a timely manner
all cost information necessary to support the market
pricing system; and - strengthening
sustainable forest management provisions in the Forest and Range
Practices Act by updating rules for forest stewardship plans;
for example, requiring entire plans to undergo public review and government approval every five years.
