Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM)

NEWS RELEASE – CANADIAN COUNCIL OF FOREST MINISTERS DISCUSS EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES IN CANADA’S FOREST SECTOR

           CALGARY, AB – June 27, 2014 - Forest  ministers from across Canada concluded a one day meeting during which they  agreed to work together on key opportunities and challenges for Canada’s forest  sector, including innovation and supporting Aboriginal participation.
            Ministers renewed  their commitment to inter-governmental cooperation and engagement on improving  the competitiveness of Canada’s forest sector and the sustainability of the  communities that rely on a vibrant industry. The Council agreed to continue to  support innovation as a critical means of strengthening and transforming the  sector, helping companies move to higher-value products and capture emerging  opportunities in the bioeconomy. The involvement of all orders of government was  recognized as being critical to maximizing the success of activities moving  forward.
            “Supporting  innovation and Aboriginal participation is critical to a thriving forest  industry," said the Honourable Greg Rickford, Canada's Minister of Natural  Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for  Northern Ontario. "Investments by our government are creating jobs and  promoting economic growth by helping Canada's forest industry diversify markets  and bring innovative, high-value products to the marketplace."
            Increasing  the participation of Aboriginal workers in the forest sector was also  identified as a key initiative. “Alberta and our partners recognize there is a  significant opportunity for Aboriginal Peoples to help address localized labour  shortages while also supporting rural economic development and rural  communities.” said the Honourable Kyle Fawcett, Alberta Minister of Jobs,  Skills, Training and Labour.
            Ministers reported  that the CCFM’s Climate Change Task Force has now completed its multi-year  project of creating a game-changing body of science-based advice for forest managers  on adapting to climate change. The CCFM has now produced ten reports that take  a detailed look at the impact of these changes on Canada’s forests and provide  practical risk-mitigating options for sector stakeholders.
          “The work of the  Climate Change Task Force has given us all the tools to design adaptation  strategies that recognize both regional differences and national interests,”  said Steve Thomson, British Columbia’s Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural  Resource Operations. The final Task Force product, a climate change adaptation  Guidebook, is currently in publication and will be released in 2014.
            The Canadian Council of Forest Ministers was established in 1985 to provide  a forum for federal, provincial and territorial governments to work  cooperatively to address issues of common interest. The CCFM provides  leadership on national and international issues and sets direction for the  stewardship and sustainable management of Canada’s forests.
            In the absence of the Quebec  Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, Quebec has not taken a position on the  issues that were discussed during the meeting.

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For more information, media may contact:

Duncan MacDonnell
Public Affairs Officer, Communications
Environment and Sustainable Resource Development
Government of Alberta
Tel: (780) 427-4805

Alexandra Lemieux
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Greg Rickford
Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the  Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario
Tel: (613) 996-2007