Identifying the Public Interest in Proposed Timber Tenure Dispositions
Last updated on June 19, 2024The Forest Act requires the Minister, or their delegated decision maker, to consider whether or not to approve the disposition (transfer) of a forest tenure agreement, or if conditions should be attached to an approval. They must consider the effects of the disposition on the marketing of fibre in British Columbia and the public interest.
The public interest for a proposed tenure agreement disposition is considered within the context of encouraging diversity and competitiveness in the forest industry. This may include personal, community, environmental and economic values, and business relationships that are proposed or existing between the intended holder of the tenure agreement and other parties.
The Minister, or their designated decision maker, wants to hear from the public regarding proposed tenure agreement dispositions. Your comments can express support or concerns, or suggest conditions to protect the public’s interest that could be placed on the approval of a proposed disposition.
Not all proposed dispositions will warrant a web-based public submission process via this web page. However, comments and inquiries related to any proposed tenure agreement disposition can be submitted directly to the Minister's office or to the Forest Tenures Branch (see link at right).
Proposed Tenure Transfers
Government is currently seeking input from interested citizens of British Columbia regarding the following dispositions to ensure that government considers the full breadth of public interest associated with the tenure agreement and proponents involved. Please click the link provided to access an online form to submit your comments. Your comments are intended to be received anonymously and should not include any self-identifying text, images or documents.
Please note: If you choose to submit comments, please note that the following criteria will be considered to ensure that submissions are acceptable and will be considered:
- Does not contain profanity or is defamatory, threatening, hateful, personally disparaging, harassing, indecent, vulgar, obscene, illegal, immoral or sexually explicit (partially masking profanity or other unacceptable language by substituting asterisks or other symbols into a word is not acceptable if the word remains recognizable);
- Does not appear to, or does actually, infringe the copyright, trade-mark, right of privacy, right of publicity or any other intellectual property or other proprietary right of any third party;
- Does not contain information about, or images (e.g., photographs, videos or illustrations) of, any person other than the person submitting the content;
- Does not advertise any product, person or organization, or directs attention to another website for personal gain;
- Does not provide links to, or information about, other sites that contain unlawful, objectionable or inappropriate content;
- Does not make unproven or unsupported accusations against individuals, groups or organizations;
- Does not appear to be spam-like messaging, a repeat posting or a template letter writing campaign; and
- Must be specific to the proposed transfer of the forest tenure agreements identified.
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Description of the Proposed Timber Tenure Transfer |
Size of the agreements involved |
Location of agreements |
Public Input Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
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The Minister of Forests has received a request from Interfor Corporation for the following tenure changes in the Great Bear Rainforest Timber Supply Area:
Review the backgrounder for Great Bear Rainforest South Timber Supply Area. |
167,395 m³ /yr 111,596 m³ /yr |
Great Bear Rainforest South Timber Supply Area |
August 1, 2024 4:00 pm |
|
The government is currently seeking input from interested citizens of British Columbia regarding the dispositions (TRANSFER) of the following licences to Kitsumkalum First Nation (Kitsumkalum).
In September 2023, 1392752 B.C. Ltd. initiated bankruptcy proceedings against Skeena. On September 20, 2023, the court appointed On September 20, 2023, the court appointed Alvarez and Marsal Canada Inc. (the “Receiver”) as the Receiver of Skeena’s assets (and the assets of two related companies). The Receiver conducted a sales process for the assets, ultimately resulting in Kitsumkalum being selected as the successful bidder. On April 16, 2024, the Supreme Court of British Columbia approved the sale of the assets, including the Tenures, to Kitsumkalum, subject to statutory approvals. Under Section 54 of the Forest Act, the minister’s approval is required before the disposition of the RFLs, TFL 41 and road permits to a new holder. |
26,112 m³ /yr 162,484 m³ /yr 128,000 m³ /yr |
Kalum Timber Supply Area Nass Timber Supply Area TFL 41 |
August 5, 2024 4:00 pm |
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The government is currently seeking input from interested citizens of British Columbia regarding the following dispositions (TRANSFER) of RFL A99343 and A99344. Subdivision Application West Fraser Mills Ltd. (WFM) has applied to subdivide two of its Replaceable Forest Licenses (RFLs):
If the subdivision is approved the two new RFLs A99343 and A99344 and the parent licences would now have the following AACs: Bulkley TSA
Morice TSA
Transfer Application WFM has also applied for the transfer of the two new RFLs, A99343 and A99344, from WFM to Lake Babine Forestry Ltd. (LBF) as the assignee of Lake Babine Nation (LBN). Section 54 of the Forest Act allows for the holder of an agreement to dispose of the agreement to another person provided the minister is satisfied that the requirements set out in the Forest Act section 54.1 have been met. Once satisfied, the disposition may proceed to completion upon written notice by the minister. New Licence: RFL A99343 New Licence: RFL A99344 Potential Future Transactions Once the transfer of A99343 and A99344 to LBF is completed LBF intends to, under sections 43.54 and 43.55 of the Forest Act, surrender the following RFLs: A99343 with an AAC of 7,558 m³ in the Bulkley TSA and A99344 with an AAC of 130.969 m³ in the Morice TSA. Amendments will then be made to LBNs First Nation Woodlot Licenses (FNWL) as follows:
|
7,558 m³/year 130,969 m³/year |
Bulkley Timber Supply Area Morice Timber Supply Area |
June 10, 2024 4:00 pm |
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The Minister of Forests has received a request from Interfor Corporation for: The subdivision of Replaceable Forest Licence A86928 (124,000 m³/year) into an amended A86928 and a new A99517 and the transfer of A99517 along with associated road permits as follows:
Review the background information for the Sunshine Coast Timber Supply Area. |
124,000 m3/year | Sunshine Coast Timber Supply Area |
July 1, 2024 4:00 pm |
Previous Tenure Transfers
Government previously sought input from interested citizens of British Columbia regarding the following dispositions.
|
Description of the proposed Timber Tenure Transfer |
Size of the agreements involved |
Location of agreements |
Public Input Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Subdivision Application Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (Canfor) has applied to the Province to subdivide Replaceable Forest Licence (RFL) A15384 with an Allowable Annual Cut (AAC) of 1,082,904 m3 /year, located within the Mackenzie Timber Supply Area (TSA). If approved, the application would create two new “child” RFL licences (A98730 and A99439) while retaining the parent licence A15384. If the subdivision is approved the two new “child” RFLs A99439 and A98730 would each have an AAC of 536,452 m³/year while the parent licence A15384 would now have an AAC of 10,000 m³/year Transfer Application Under Section 54 of the Forest Act, Canfor intends to dispose of the newly created “child” RFLs, including associated Road Permits and Cutting Permits, as follows:
It is recognized that an Apportionment process is currently underway within the Mackenzie TSA, licences A99439 and A98730 will be subject to licence reductions through the Apportionment process. |
1,082,904 m3/year | Mackenzie Timber Supply Area | Engagement closed and Decision Pending |
|
The Minister of Forests has received a request from Interfor Corporation for: The subdivision of Replaceable Forest Licence A19235 into an amended A19235 and new A98667 and the subsequent transfer along with associated road permits as follows:
The transfer of A86838 – 49,485 m3 and associated road permits to Cisaa Forestry LLP Review:
|
98,971 m3/year | Arrowsmith Timber Supply Area |
February 15, 2024 4:00 pm (Original closing date March 15, 2023) |
|
The Minister of Forests has received a request from Interfor Corporation for the transfer of the following Replaceable Forest Licences and associated road permits:
Review the background information for North Island Timber Supply Area. |
168,184 m3/year | North Island Timber Supply Area | Engagement closed and Decision Pending |
|
The Minister of Forests has received a request from Interfor Corporation for the transfer of the following Replaceable Forest Licence and associated road permits:
Review the backgrounder for Great Bear Rainforest North Timber Supply Area. |
24,488 m3/year | Great Bear Rainforest North Timber Supply Area | Engagement closed and Decision Pending |
|
The Minister of Forests has received a request from Interfor Corporation for: The subdivision of Replaceable Forest Licence A19220 into an amended A19220, a new A98741, and a new A98809 and the subsequent transfer along with associated road permits as follows:
The transfer of Replaceable Forest Licence A19224 – 81,450 m3 and associated road permits to Tsain-ko Forestry Development Corporation The transfer of Replaceable Forest Licence A98515 – 40,000 m3 and associated road permits to Tsain-ko Forestry Development Corporation Review the background information for Sunshine Coast Timber Supply Area. |
221,450 m3/year | Sunshine Coast Timber Supply Area |
April 24, 2023 4:00 pm |
|
The Minister of Forests has received a request for the approval of the transfer of multiple licences, listed below, and associated road permits, from Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd. to Pacific Woodtech Canada Holdings Ltd.
Review the proponents' statement announcing their proposed transaction. |
487,710 m³/year | Thompson Okanagan and Kootenay Boundary Regions |
January 31, 2023 (Original closing date November 17, 2022) |
|
The Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development has received a request for the approval of the transfer of Non-Replaceable Forest Licence (NRFL) A89983, and associated road permits, from Fort St James Green Energy Limited Partnership to Bionorth Energy Limited Partnership. Bionorth Energy is a partnership among Arrow Northern Services Inc., the Nak’azdli Development Corporation, and Nexus PMGInfrastructure Advisory Services. NRFL A89983 is a bioenergy licence issued under section 13.1(5) of the Forest Act. The licence expires on October 30, 2038. The licence is currently restricted to the following timber specifications:
Review the proponents' statement announcing their proposed transaction. |
370,000 m³/year |
Supply Blocks A, B and C of the Prince George Timber Supply Area |
January 4, 2022 4:00 pm |
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The Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development has received a request for the approval of the transfer of Replaceable Forest License (“RFL”) A17007 from Canadian Forest Products Ltd. to Peak Fort Nelson Properties Ltd. RFL A17007 is administered within the Fort Nelson Timber Supply Area. The Minister approved this transfer on August 18, 2021.
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A17007: 553,716 m3/yr | Northeast Natural Resource Region |
March 3, 2021 4:00 pm |
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PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc., solely in its capacity as trustee of the assets, undertakings and properties of C. & C. Wood Products Ltd., requests approval for the disposition (transfer) of the Non-Replaceable Forest Licence (NRFL) A79982 from C. & C. Wood Products Ltd. to Quesnel Investments Corporation. NRFL A79982 is administered within the Quesnel Timber Supply Area and has an allowable annual cut of 68,130 cubic meters per year (m3/yr). There is a total of 577,889 m3 remaining under the licence and the term of the licence expires on December 31, 2027. |
A79982: 68,130 m3/yr | Cariboo Natural Resource Region |
October 12, 2020 4:00 pm |
|
Canadian Forest Products Ltd. & Interfor Corporation Tree Farm Licence 18 and Forest Licence A18688, which include 21 associated road permits |
Tree Farm Licence 18: 164,500 cubic meters per year A18688: 184,481 cubic meters per year |
Thompson-Okanagan Natural Resource Region |
October 2, 2019 4:00 PM |
|
Conifex Inc. & Fort St. James Forest Products General Partner Ltd. (Hampton Lumber Mills – Canada Ltd.) Forest Licence A77955 and 22 associated road permits |
A77955: 440,000 cubic meters per year |
Omineca Natural Resource Region |
October 2, 2019 4:00 PM |
Contact information
Contact us if you have questions about timber tenure transfers.