Critics weigh in on B.C.’s plan to temporarily defer the logging of old-growth trees

VICTORIA — First Nations in B.C. have 30 days to decide whether they’ll support the province’s plan to temporarily defer the logging of big, ancient old-growth trees across 26,000 square kilometres of forests identified as at-risk by an independent panel.

The province says the two-year deferrals will be determined through agreements with First Nations and provide time to develop new plans for managing old-growth.

The B-C Council of Forest Industries says the deferrals could result in the shutdown of 14-20 mills and could result in the loss of 18,000 jobs and more than $400-million in annual government revenues.