B.C. announces new forest stewardship initiatives

shift in B.C.’s forestry policies.

“The BC First Nations Forestry Council is looking forward to continuing working with the Province to modernize forest policy in B.C.,” said Lennard Joe, CEO of the First Nations Forestry Council and Merritt resident.

Planning opportunities for First Nations are both vital to increasing the participation of First Nations in the forest sector as full partners.”

The province also announced it is doubling the new BC

Manufacturing Jobs Fund to $180 million and expanding eligibility provincewide.

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Marius Auer REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Amidst uncertain times for B.C.’s forestry sector as a whole, the provincial government has made a slew of announcements aimed at protecting old growth and collaborating with First Nations to “better care” for the province’s forests. The announcement of the new eight point plan is $25 million in funding for new Forest Landscape Planning (FLP) tables, which the province said will drive improved management of old-growth forests, while keeping community priorities and incorporating local knowledge.

The eight new regional FLP tables will include the participation of approximately 50 B.C. First Nations, who requested more indepth discussions and collaboration around the issue of old-growth forests. The tables will rule out certain areas for the harvesting of old-growth forests, and provide more certainty about the areas where sustainable cutting can occur. The changes come as part of an overall

“The forestry council will continue to support Nations in efforts to increase their role in the governance and stewardship of forest lands and resources. The Province’s commitment to continue implementation of the Old Growth Strategic Review and to increase Forest Landscape invites you to our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING March 22, 2023 at 6:30 pm at the Civic Centre, room 4 OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS

Memberships are $5 00 can be e-transfered to foodbank@telus net Please contact the Food Bank at Foodbank@telus.net

The Cit y of Merritt intends to bring for ward Zoning Amendment Bylaw No 23 47, 2023, for First Reading and subsequent readings at the Februar y 28, 2023 Regular Council Meeting.

The purpose of this Zoning Bylaw is to incorporate tex t for the Comprehensive Development CD2 and CD3 Zones of the Cit y When these bylaws were adopted in 2022 , the tex t was inadver tently not incorporated into the main zoning bylaw. The lands that are subjec t to this are the lands already zoned CD2 and CD3 at and adjacent to the former Visitor Centre by E xit 286, identified on the enclosed map

The proposed bylaw is consistent with the Official Communit y Plan, due to Amending Bylaws No. 2310, 2021, and 2327, 2021 A s a result , no Public Hearing is proposed.

The proposed bylaw may be inspec ted at Cit y Hall during ordinar y business hours ( Tuesday-Friday, 8:0 0am to midday & 1:15pm to 5:45pm), and any time online at w w w merritt ca

• Full-time Kindergarten – must be 5 yrs by Dec 31, 2023

• Bus Services provided to all areas of Merritt

HEAD START SERVICES:

• 3 & 4 year old Program (K4 must be 4 yrs old by Dec 31, 2023)

• Home Visiting Program

• Transportation provided for all Head Start program

• Mom’s & Tot’s Services 0 to 6 years old

CURRICULUM:

• New BC Curriculum

• Nle?kepmx

• Cultural Studies

• Field Trips

• Learning Assistance Program

• School supplies provided

• SKATING/HOCKEY PROGRAM

• Joyful Literacy

FACILITIES:

• Full-Size Gymnasium

• Library

• Baseball/Soccer Field

From Page 8

The new fund will support industrial and manufacturing projects, such as the purchasing of new equipment, allowing mills to process smaller-diameter trees and manufacture other types of wood products. An additional $10 million in a silviculture innovation program fund and $2.4 million provided to the First Nations Forestry Council to codevelop new forestry policy were also announced by the provincial government.

Despite the new support and funding, Aspen Planers in Merritt continues to operate on imported logs after a nearly two month closure, and its ownership has said it could close again by the end of February if new cutting permits aren’t issued.

Aspen Planers employees, along with local forestry contractors and employees, recently began protests at the Ministry of Forests’ Merritt