Submitted
Editor's Note: The following is a letter sent recently by MLA Terry Lake to a resident of Upper Clearwater.
Thank you for your message regarding Canfor’s application for a cutting permit in the Clearwater Valley.
I have had an opportunity to get some background from staff at the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations and have reviewed the 1999 Guiding Principles for the Management of Land and Resources in the Upper Clearwater Valley.
The current proposal focuses on salvage harvesting of timber affected by the mountain pine beetle which appears to be consistent with the guidelines for Area G in the plan. MFLNRO staff are committed to honouring the principles of the plan.
I understand Canfor has been able to re-engage with the Upper Clearwater Community with the assistance of Tom Dickinson the Dean of Science at TRU. At their last meeting, Canfor presented their field work results from last summer demonstrating a number of changes to their original proposal.
I am told that this new draft proposal clearly shows that Canfor has heard the community concerns from earlier conversations. The company’s next step will be to continue to conduct additional field work to further define the details of their plan followed by a return to the community with their final proposal.
Canfor is looking to finalize their plans this spring and summer with an expectation to harvest on issued authorities this fall and into the winter. Harvesting is likely to occur over a number of years on any authorities as Canfor is looking to address the Mountain Pine Beetle attacked stands in the short term with harvest of non- attacked timber over future years.
Within the community conversation Canfor has exhibited a commitment to the Upper Clearwater agreement and in fact are using some of the principles to the east of Area G – outside the agreement area
I understand the Upper Clearwater community is looking for additional information with respect to the definition of salvage, the role of the Statutory Decision Maker in this process and a clearer picture of where the original agreement is placed on the landscape. Thompson Rivers District staff of the Ministry will be assisting Canfor in these three areas.
Sincerely,
Terry Lake, DVM
MLA Kamloops North Thompson
Minister of Health