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Quesnel hoping to shape old-growth policy through counter-proposal

Mayor Bob Simpson shared the results of his meetings in Victoria on Nov. 23
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Quesnel hopes to offer a counter-proposal to the provincial government for their old growth deferral. (File photo)

Quesnel city council is hoping to offer a counter-proposal to the government’s plans to put a halt to old-growth forestry for two years, mayor Bob Simpson said during a city council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 23.

Simpson was fresh off a visit to Victoria, and said Quesnel has a role to play in the future of forestry. During his meetings, he met with over two dozen government representatives, including with the ministry of the environment and forestry.

Simpson was in Victoria the week B.C.’s proposed two-year halt on old-growth harvesting in some areas was announced. Over 2.6 million hectares of the province is included in the deferral.

READ MORE: Two-year target set to finalize B.C.’s old-growth protection plan

Simpson said Quesnel will be taking a different approach than other municipalities, noting some have planned protests and truck convoys to fight forestry changes.

“We can beat our chest that climate change is real, and we’ve got to do things differently, and then when we’re asked to do things differently, we beat our chests and say ‘yeah, but not on my watch, we’re not going to do it,’” Simpson said, adding he hopes to present a counter-proposal that falls in line with the provincial government’s stated values.

“West Fraser’s been a really good partner in finding a way to do that.”

Earlier in the meeting, Kandola Forest Products presented to council, and outlined expansion plans for 2022.

READ MORE: Quesnel mill is reborn under new ownership

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com


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