We are fortunate in BC to have a land base that can support both a world class forest industry and parks like the 947,026 hectare Tatshenshini-Alsek Provincial Park which, together with adjacent parks in Alaska and the Yukon, forms the world's largest international World Heritage Site. Comprehensive land use planning that involves British Columbians directly in planning related to the protection, resource development and other uses of their public lands has made BC a world leader in sustainable forest management.

I hope you have an opportunity to get out into BC’s great outdoors this summer with your family and friends. If you do, please remember to report wildfires at Report a Wildfire: 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 from a cellular phone.

Enjoy a safe and happy summer vacation!

Forest fuel reduction needs to become a priority consideration in forest management policy and practices, especially in the Southern Interior of the province, according to the Forest Practices Board.

The Forest Practices Board commissioned a report on forest fuel management last summer. The report provides the board’s conclusions and recommendations on this very complex issue.

“Where prescribed fire is an appropriate tool to reduce fuel levels, consideration must be given to addressing the risks of fire escape and liability, and to public health concerns about smoke.” In response to the findings of this review, the board makes a number of recommendations, including:

1. Clear targets for fuel reduction in important areas need to be established.
2. A provincial system to accurately assess and map fuels is needed.
3. Prescribed fire is the most practical means of reducing forest fuels in appropriate areas and this practice needs to be returned to the landscape.
4. Fuel reduction practices that do not further add to the fuel problem need to be tested and implemented.
5. The provincial government needs to continue to encourage and support fuel reduction activities in wildland-urban interface
areas.

For more information go to the website: www.fpb.gov.bc.ca/news/releases/2006/06-19.htm

The B.C. Competition Council has presented an extensive set of recommendations to the Province for enhancing the competitiveness of British Columbia’s economy.

“In addition to specific recommendations for each sector, the report’s main section advises government and industry on a number of issues that are affecting the competitiveness of all sectors in the B.C. economy, or what we called cross-sector issues,” said Dan Miller, council co-chair. Cross-sector issues include education and skills training, regulation, taxation, infrastructure and energy. Taken together, the recommendations would cost government $350 million, rising to $450 million by 2009/10.

“Education and skills development are one of the most important contributors in building a successful economy,” said Miller. “We have made a number of recommendations concerning professional and post graduate studies, recognizing immigrant credentials, and industry’s obligation to offer co-op and intern programmes. Most significantly we are calling on industry and government to sponsor an additional 7,000 apprenticeships over the next three years.”

David Thompson, council co-chair, noted that there were eight tax-related recommendations, all aimed at building on British Columbia’s already favourable tax regime. The most significant is a recommendation to provide an incentive to attract and retain the skilled and professional workforce necessary to meet existing and future labour requirements, by making British Columbia’s personal tax rates the lowest in Canada for those who earn between $67,500 per annum and $150,000.

“B.C. already has the lowest personal income tax rates for those who earn below $67,500 per annum,” said Thompson. “If implemented, the proposed reduction would mean that 99 per cent of all employees and self employed taxpayers in British Columbia would have the lowest personal tax rates in Canada.”

Thompson stated: “The aim of the recommendations in this report is to ensure that British Columbia is the best place in Canada to visit, live, work, learn and invest.”

The complete Competition Council Report and the individual Industry Action Committees’ reports are available on line at www.bccompetitioncouncil.ca.

COFI members and staff were saddened and shocked at the untimely passing of Peter Affleck, Vice President Forestry, on May 1, 2006. In memory of Peter, the Council of Forest Industries joins with many others to establish the Peter N. Affleck Memorial Graduate Scholarship in Forest Policy at the University of B.C.

Peter was recognized across Canada as a dedicated, effective and highly respected advocate for the forest sector. Providing assistance to young people in developing knowledge and a passion for good forest policy is something we are confident will be considered a fitting tribute to Peter.

It is now up to Peter’s friends and colleagues to join with us in establishing the fund that will support the provision of annual scholarships to forestry students at UBC in his name.

Please consider making a contribution today as we must raise a minimum amount before the University can formally establish the scholarship. Contributions are tax deductible.

Cheques should be made out to: UBC – Peter N. Affleck Scholarship Fund and mailed to:

Dan Worsley
Associate Director
Awards, Gifts and Estate Planning
The University of British Columbia
Suite 500 – 5950 University Boulevard
Vancouver, B.C.
V6T 1Z3

Contributions will be gratefully received from corporations, associations, governments and individuals.

The Boards and Member Companies of FERIC, Forintek and Paprican research institutes have voted in favour of the creation of a new structure to spearhead their activities.

The Institutes will be working together to develop an integration plan which will be presented to their respective members for final approval in the next six months.

FERIC's goal is to improve Canadian forestry operations related to the harvesting and transportation of wood, and the growing of trees, within a framework of sustainable development. Its mission is to provide all members and partners with the knowledge and technology to conduct cost-competitive, quality operations that respect the forest environment. The Institute's research program is developed with the guidance of regional advisory committees that include representatives of all members and partners. Ongoing feedback helps address the broad spectrum of technical problems encountered during the planning and implementation of all aspects of forestry operations.

Forintek Canada Corp. is Canada's national wood products research institute. Its mission is to develop scientific and technical knowledge, application and solutions that will enhance the ongoing competitiveness of its members and the Canadian wood products sector. Based on priorities set by its industry and government members, it delivers technological solutions in such areas as lumber, panels, and other value-added wood products manufacturing processes or attributes, drying and protection, building systems, etc. Forintek also conducts market and economic studies, and plays a key role in the development of building codes and standards, both nationally and internationally.

Paprican, the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada, is a leading not-for-profit research and technology institute that provides valuable technology transfer and cost-competitive research addressing both the short-term and strategic needs of its Members. Its research programs are driven by the high-priority technical issues of the industry such as product quality and value, cost competitiveness, environment and sustainability. Internationally recognized for excellence, Paprican operates laboratories in Quebec and British Columbia, and is well positioned to offer services to the global pulp and paper industry.

Canadian Trade Commissioners and delegates visit local sawmill operations

Hosted by BC market Outreach Network and assisted by COFI, a group of nine Canadian Trade Commissioners from Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Seattle, Tucson, Tokyo, Ottawa and Vancouver spent two days on the coast and two days in the interior learning about BC’s forest industry.

While in Prince George, local industry representatives took time out of their busy schedules to host the group on both forest and mill tours. Delegates were given a helicopter tour south of Prince George with representatives from Dunkley Lumber and Canfor to learn about BC forest practices and the effect of the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic. The heli tour included on-the-ground stops of forest management as well as Mountain Pine Beetle attacked stands. A tour of Dunkley Lumber’s high out-put random length sawmill south of Prince George to better understand BC’s lumber manufacturing was a highlight of the day. In the evening the Commissioners attended a presentation outlining the economics and competitiveness of the interior forest industry.

Day two of the tour included stud manufacturing, finger jointing and home component manufacturing as the delegates toured Lakeland Sawmill, Brink Forest Products and Winton Global Homes. The two day interior tour ended with the Commissioners attending a dinner with local community and business leaders at UNBC.

Trade Commissioner William Stolz from Atlanta Georgia effused, “This was the best trade mission I have ever been part of.” It gave the Commissioners first hand exposure and understanding of the operational economic and sustainability issues involved in producing forest products on the coast and in the interior.

The tour was made possible with the generous contributions from the above mentioned companies as well as Carrier Lumber’s helicopter and the logistic support of COFI’s Northern Operations’ staff. BC Market Outreach Network provided significant financial, planning, and logistical support.

For more information contact: Chris Lear, Forest Education Manager, COFI Northern Operations by phone at: (250) 614-4352 or by e-mail at: lear@cofi.org.

or Karen Keller-Brandt, VP Market Communications, BC Market Outreach Network by phone at: (604) 685-7507 or by e-mail at: Karen.brandt@bcmon.ca.