Parmar Pledges Timber Policy Tweaks for B.C. Forest Sector

0:00BC Forest Minister Ravi Parmar hit the Council of Forest Industries Convention in Vancouver, promising policy tweaks to BC, timber sales that could unlock more timber for a hungry sector, short on supply. Earlier this week, he spotlighted Bill 14, a spring bill aimed at easing access, but industry leaders say it moves too slow to fix their reel. Headache. Permits dragging on for two to three years? Meanwhile, the Council's CEO, Kim Hockstad, pointed out mining projects like Sintera Gold's Mount Milligan expansion got approved in just 10 months. And they want that speed for forestry too. The industry powers 95,000 jobs and adds $12.8 billion to BC. His economy from 2024 data yet faces tougher times with mill closures and cuts looming without quick government moves. Parmar laid out long-term shifts to area-based plans with first nations and industry for steady supply, plus fixes to salvage fire-damaged wood, and stream on those outdated permit forms

1:03while his team builds an action plan amid opposition calls for real simplification. From your city, powered by AI, this is Canada News Today. I'm Corey with The Story.