VICTORIA – After weeks of pressure from Opposition New Democrats, the CampbellOntario. government has quietly registered for standing in Pope and Talbot’s bankruptcy proceedings in Ontario.

Forest and Range Minister Rich Coleman acknowledged yesterday that theBob Simpson government had applied for standing and Ontario court documents confirmed it.

Katrine Conroy

Kootenay West

Katrine Conroy was elected as the MLA for Kootenay West May 12, 2009.

VICTORIA—The secret sale of Tree Farm Licence lands owned by Pope & Talbot in the Kootenays shows the Campbell government is proceeding at break-neck speed with multi-million dollar giveaways of forest land, say the New Democrats.

VICTORIA–NDP Leader Carole James has written to Auditor General John Doyle in support of a request made by the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Victoria.

And the NDP has also asked Premier Gordon Campbell to ensure that more private lands aren’t removed from Tree Farm Licenses until the Auditor has had a chance to review the issues.

The letters are attached below as pdfs.

VICTORIA – The Campbell government’s refusal to support a full audit into the release of private lands from Tree Farm Licenses is proof the B.C. Liberals don’t care about the future of forestry communities, says New Democrat forestry critic Bob Simpson.

VICTORIA – New Democrat MLA Bob Simpson says Forests Minister Rich Coleman must release his Coast Recovery Plan immediately so workers and communities can begin to recover from the effects of the protracted labour dispute and from the uncertainty the Campbell government’s inaction has created.

VICTORIA - The Campbell government is continuing to botch the implementation of the new Meat Industry Regulation by throwing misinformation into the mix, say New Democrat MLAs Charlie Wyse and Bob Simpson. 

VICTORIA—New Democrat Forestry Critic Bob Simpson is urging the Campbell government to toughen regulations on the management of timber licensed land after 1,800 hectares of waterfront land were put up for sale in Jordan River. 

VANCOUVER—The provincial and federal governments have failed to mount a coordinated and comprehensive response to the mountain pine beetle epidemic and local governments will pay the price, NDP Forests and Range Critic Bob Simpson said today.

CAMPBELL RIVER—The Campbell government must stop stalling and release its much-delayed coastal forest plan, New Democrat Forests and Range Critic Bob Simpson said today.Bob Simpson

VICTORIA – The Chief Forester’s report released yesterday sheds light on the Campbell government’s continued failure to provide effective resources to help communities impacted by the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic, says New Democrat Forestry Critic Bob Simpson.