Released on November 22, 2002
A partnership of seven northwest Saskatchewan communities has been granteda five-year licence to harvest timber on more than 770,000 hectares of
Provincial Forest. Environment Minister Buckley Belanger granted the Term
Supply Licence at a ceremony in Beauval today.
The Term Supply Licence (TSL) marks an important milestone for Northwest
Communities Wood Products Inc. (NWC), a partnership including the
communities of Beauval, Buffalo Narrows, Green Lake, Ile-a-la-Crosse, La
Loche, Patuanak and Pinehouse Lake. The longer term of the licence
provides additional security of supply for the company as it continues to
develop its business plan and seek industrial partners. The agreement also
addresses other interests on the area, with a portion of the available wood
set aside for third parties.
"This licence is an affirmation of the government's firm commitment to the
pursuit of forest economic developments for this area," Belanger
said. "Today, we've taken a significant step - the first community-based
Term Supply Licence in Saskatchewan."
The parties also signed a letter of intent today, outlining the process for
NWC to gain a licence for parts of the Turnor Blocks, northern reserve
areas being relinquished by Mistik Management. Next steps include
completion of an inventory and a business plan.
A Forest Management Trust Fund, administered jointly by the NWC, a trustee
and Saskatchewan Environment, is already in place. Reforestation fees paid
on each cubic metre of timber harvested from the area go into the fund,
which is spent on forest renewal and management activities.
Harvesting based on the new TSL will begin following Saskatchewan
Environment's approval of an Annual Operating Plan, which is currently
being developed.
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For more information, contact:
Al Willcocks Bill Hatton
Environment Northwest Communities Wood Products Inc.
Prince Albert Beauval
Phone: (306) 953-2486 Phone: (306) 288-4570