says BC Forests Minister Steve Thomson, alluding to the government’s anticipated proposal to free up some protected forest to logging in response to dwindling wood supply (Sawmill explosions add urgency to B.C. forest crisis – The Globe and Mail, 5/1).
With tensions mounting, The Canadian Institute of Forestry has called for caution, while The Association of BC Forest Professionals “warns against what it calls ‘making short-term tradeoffs’ at the expense of the long-term health of the forests that would do nothing more than postpone mill closings.”
In the face of the politically charged raw-log export debate, it’s no wonder Minister Thomson indicates there will be “controversial” decisions ahead.  From this corner, we’ll be joining others in following developments.