Two B.C. First Nation chiefs are blaming the provincial government’s slow process for granting timber harvesting permits, which is causing unnecessary delays that they say are killing the province’s forest industry.
“They didn’t come to us about permitting. They didn’t talk to us in here the North about old growth. They’re focusing on Vancouver and Victoria and the nations down there. Up here we have no say, which is totally wrong. This is forestry country, which it has been forever, and we should have a say. “We’re still stuck under the thumb of government and having them hide behind their policies that have kept us as first nations from participating in decision making and truly benefiting the economy.”
“This one-size-fits-all approach from Victoria spread out to the province has to stop. The government has to realize there’s life beyond Hope.” But that does not mean there’s a shortage of trees. Logan said a Google Earth flyover of the forests of Lheidli territory will confirm that.