By Cheryl Jahn

First Nations and Industry demand change in policy

Jun 28, 2024 | 3:00 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The Chiefs of the Lheidli T’enneh and Simpcw First Nations today called on the BC Government to approve cutting permits to help the beleaguered forest industry. The industry continues to struggle from a reduced timber supply and higher costs associated with harvesting, hauling and lumber production.

Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan and Simpcw First Nation Kukpi7 George Lampreau state that government delays in issuing cutting permits is making a tough situation even worse.

‘We are urging the BC Government to empower staff to approve cutting permits faster. Unnecessary delays are adding costs at a time when the industry is facing enough uncertainty and challenges. Our own logging company LTN Contracting is affected by delays in getting cutting permits as are our members who work in the forest industry. Lheidli has always been a Forestry First Nation. We work very closely with both licensees and government staff to ensure the forests in our unceded territory are managed sustainably for the benefit of everyone. Unnecessary delays in getting cutting permits approved are not helping an industry that already faces major challenges,.” says Lheildi T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan .

“The health of the forests and the forest industry is paramount to our nation moving forward. We need both. The industry in our territory needs timber to survive. Our staff team works closely with licensees and government staff to identify appropriate areas for logging, volumes and harvesting methods. Government can be assured that cutting permit applications are not submitted unless we approve them. The same goes for Lheidli. We are asking government today to speed up their approval process and get cutting permits issued so we can get our members and others back to work this summer,” says Simpcw Kukpi7 George Lampreau.

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Both Chiefs state that the BC Government has made substantial progress in recent years working with BC First Nations on a host of challenges and opportunities in their territories.

The Chiefs are hopeful the government will support their call to issue cutting permits that have been submitted, reviewed and are ready for approval.