BC Minister Of Forests New Chair Of Canadian Council Of Forest Ministers

British Columbia’s Minister of Forests is the new chair of the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers.

The council, made up of provincial, territorial and federal forest ministers met yesterday to discuss shared priorities, challenges and emerging opportunities for Canada’s forestry sector.

Ravi Parmar takes over from his counterpart from Newfoundland and Labrador.

Parmar says his priority will always be to put people first.

“Whether it’s protecting their homes from wildfire, adding more local jobs or ensuring forestry continues to be a source of pride and prosperity for our rural, remote and First Nations communities, this work must be rooted in the well-being of people," he said in a statement.

Parmar said he and his colleagues across the country look forward to scaling up their wildfire response, including expanded aerial firefighting capacity, and accelerating reforestation efforts.

He also notes the ongoing threat of U.S. softwood lumber tariffs continues to unfairly impact workers, families and communities, and he is committed to working to push back and advocate for a long-term deal that will ensure that B.C. and Canadian forestry businesses can compete on a level playing field.

Parmar will chair the Council for the following year.

To read the full statement, visit Government of British Columbia.