MEDIA RELEASE

Dan Miller to facilitate review of resulting recommendations from Contractor Sustainability Review

August 22, 2018, Vancouver – Following the May 17, 2018 announcement of the resulting 13 recommendations from the Contractor Sustainability Review, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development announced today Dan Miller, former Minister of Forests and Premier of BC as the review’s independent facilitator.

Miller will bring independent timber harvesters and forest licensees together to review the recommendations, identify consensus and differing opinions. The long-awaited review, which was undertaken in 2017 to improve competitiveness between logging contractors and forest licensees, has not been made public.

“We’re pleased the government is delivering on their commitment to timber harvesting contractors,” says David Elstone, TLA Executive Director. “It’s imperative implementing the recommendations remain a high priority, so it’s reassuring Miller’s report is due by October 2018.”

“We’re pleased with the government’s choice of selecting Miller,” said Mike Richardson, TLA President. “His experience and significant knowledge of the forestry industry and familiarity with its long history of challenges and issues makes him an appropriate facilitator to review the recommendations.”

Timber harvesting contractors are the economic backbone of BC’s rural communities. Working to achieve contractor sustainability will allow independent timber harvesting contractors to earn a fair rate of return so they can continue to provide steady, well-paying jobs in BC’s rural communities.

The Truck Loggers Association (TLA) represents 500 member companies in British Columbia. Our membership supports thousands of workers and, along with other independent contractors, accounts for close to 90 percent of the trees harvested on the coast. The TLA promotes a thriving, sustainable forest industry in BC.

For more information:

Jennifer Kramer Director of Communications

Phone: 604.684.4291 ext 2

Cell: 778.989.2939

Email: jennifer@tla.ca

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