BC Forestry Minister on Saik’uz & Vanderhoof forestry agreement, and provincial shift to area based forestry management

BC Forestry Minister, Ravi Parmar, spoke with CFURadio over the phone ahead of a planned, then disrupted, trip to Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh. Not only does the Saik’uz & Vanderhoof forest management plan have things in common with Area Based Management practices, the province is also moving from Volume Based, to Area Based Management. Photo courtesy of the Province of British Columbia

BC Forestry Minister on Saik’uz & Vanderhoof forestry agreement, and provincial shift to area based

Due North News

September 10, 2026

Following up from earlier stories CFURadio aired covering a forestry partnership between Saik’uz First Nation and the District of Vanderhoof, and an industry retrospective with local entrepreneur John A. Brink. It left another question unanswered, of whether their approach was similar to that of the Area Based Management approach that BC Forestry Minister Ravi Parmar referred to in a conversation with Mr. Brink. Fortunately we were able to follow up and ask Mr. Parmar that question directly over the phone.

While the collaboration does have a number of things in common with the concept of Area Based Management, as opposed to Volume Based Management plans, Mr. Parmar stated in relation to the inadequacy of the province’s current Volume Based Management strategy, “I probably wasn’t as clear as I should have been on the John Brink Podcast. I don’t think we should just switch from volume based to area based management. I think we must transition from volume to area based management.”

He went on, “I don’t believe volume based will help support the future of this sector, and in fact I think it is a detriment to the success of this sector, and is leading to the demise of this sector.”

Though alluded to during our conversation it has been revealed since our interview first by a Tyee article and then by a BC Government issued statement, that forestry management practices in the province are being changed to a version of Area Based Management in the form of three zones.

Beyond challenges that include, but are not limited to, consultation work that will likely be conducted in lieu of shifting the system and integrating public interest tests in transitioning existing tenures, opportunities could arise. The Minister referenced part of his vision, “From a provincial perspective my number one priority is to build a working forest that can ensure that it can align with values of all British Columbians and certainly I’m mindful that tenure reform will be a part of that conversation.” He also mentioned in reference to the concept of a working forest, a personal desire to attain stability, moving away from boom and bust cycles.
Working against that stability are ongoing tariffs and duties affecting the industry, the announcement of which took Mr. Parmar away from plans to visit Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh in August, and since our conversation some subsidies have been announced for BC businesses in need of financial aid.

Amidst a stressed local and provincial economy, these changes will have impacts, stay tuned to CFURadio for more information.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
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The Regional District, elections, the City of Prince George, and you

The Regional District, elections, the City of Prince George, and you

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Not every local resident lives within the city limits of Prince George. Those residing in the city’s surrounding areas are actually governed by the greater Regional District of Fraser-Fort George in which the city resides, and have a different list of electoral candidates and possibly different municipal priorities. Extricating the details of these overlapping levels of local government for us, is Manager of Communications and Culture at the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Hillary Erasmus. Photo Credit - Ian Gregg

As local government elections approach communities across BC for October 17th, some of our audience asked for clarification between the City of Prince George, and the Regional District of Fraser Fort George (RDFFG) in which the city resides. It’s not lawless territory beyond Blackburn, but who runs the show isn’t necessarily obvious. Prince George and the Regional District are governed by elected officials, who will be selected October 17th, and their decisions could affect local residents within city limits, and outside. Some City of Prince George councilors also serve as Directors for the Regional District which can lead to confusion, especially when voters get to a ballot box.

Examining the interconnected tissue between these layers of local governance with CFURadio is Manager of Communications and Culture at RDFFG, Hillary Erasmus. She kept it simple, “If you live within the municipal boundaries of the City of Prince George, you will be voting in the City of Prince George elections.” If you reside outside of city limits in the surrounding area, you will be voting for Directors in one of the Regional District’s Electoral Districts.

Erasmus also took time to explain the intricacies of this Regional District as a federation of many smaller governing bodies, which can operate independently, affect one another, and collaborate for a collective benefit. One of these collaborative projects is solid waste management, with the regional landfill on the northwest edge of Prince George servicing communities as far away as Valemount.

Making change in such a large system can be challenging but the opportunity to vote is coming up fast, and in addition to that opportunity to participate in the decision making, citizens can also be nominated to run as an Electoral Area Director until September 11th.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
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Due North Info Bulletin - 27 August 2026

Weekly News Bulletin

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An audio bulletin for the weeK of August 26th 2026

Looking at the next seven days in Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh, for most of them, the weather forecast contains a 40% chance of precipitation. In the newsroom, here is what we’ve picked up on:

• Prices at the pump are between highs of ¢179.9/L and lows of ¢155.9/L for gasoline reported. 

• There are eleven active fires in the Prince George fire district.

• Nomination packages are available at city hall, and can be submitted until 4pm on September 11th.

• Announced August 25th, Lheidli T’enneh First Nation is moving ahead, alongside the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), to construct a salmon hatchery on the north bank of the Nechako river near the confluence of the Fraser river,

• Lheidli T’enneh First Nation also announced the soft opening of an interpretive centre at Chun T’oh Whudujut or the Ancient Forest park 120km east of Prince George city centre on August 27th.

• Prince George–Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird has stepped away from the BC Conservative Party to represent her constituents as an independent MLA.

• UNBC Professor Dr. Joe Shea launched The Climate Conversations podcast, airing on CFURadio 88,7FM Tuesdays & Wednesdays, offering local expert perspectives and practical options to approach the issue.

• The 10th anniversary of the Red Dress Campaign runs September 5th & 6th. Guest speakers and the public are invited to join a healing ceremony on the 5th at the Red Dress Monument on the junction of Ferry Ave & Hwy 16E, while another opportunity to participate in the march happens on Sept 6th.

• September 11th, 7:30pm @ Omineca Arts Centre, Spier & The Dead Wrongs rip some chords. $15 presales $20 at the door.

• September 12th, 8pm @ Prince George Legion 43, Diode, Tarantula Hawk, and Brainium assemble a sonic assault. $15 presales $20 at the door.

• Beading workshops occur Wednesday September 2nd at Omineca Arts Centre, 6:30-9:00pm, hosted by Lynn Biles. Swing on by with a couple bucks for beading supplies.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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Enbridge Lugs Four Billion Dollars of Loops into Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh

Enbridge announced a four billion dollar pipeline expansion project to take place along Highway 97 with the partial investment of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and the consent of the City of Prince George. Provincial and Federal Ministers took notice. Photo Credit - Ian Gregg

On Monday July 20th a crowd that included local politicians, labour reps, and employers gathered in Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh’s BCR site to hear Enbridge’s executive vice-president of gas transmission, Matthew Akman, and CEO of Enbridge, Greg Ebel, announce the initiation of their $4 Billion dollar Sunrise Expansion Program. The project will install pipeline expansion loops in our region approximately between McLeod Lake and Hixon. The executives were flanked on-stage by Lheidli T’enneh Chief, Dolleen Logan, Federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson, and BC Minister of Jobs and Economic Development, Ravi Kahlon who welcomed the news.

That much investment in the pre-existing Westcoast Transmission System brought a lot of attention, with Ministers of this stature rarely making joint visits to our region. It also promises to bring a lot of opportunities and tax revenue to the area, including a $3 Billion estimated GDP growth for the country at large. Obstacles were navigated to bring the project to this point, and not just in terms of regulations and logistics, which were overcome with relative haste. To that effect, Minister Hodgson stated, “The Sunrise Expansion project has gone from approval to groundbreaking in just three months, showing how in 2026 Canada has gone from delay to delivery,”

Enbridge has had difficulty gaining traction in the area since its Northern Gateway Pipeline Proposal was cancelled in 2016, and a gas pipeline the company operates  ruptured in 2018, 15km from Prince George’s city centre, in Shelley, that resulted in a fireball visible from several kilometres away. These trials have been handled with fortuitous results, but some questions remain.

Looking past local ecological impacts, or climate change factors that go along with fossil fuels, and the Woodfibre LNG facility incorporated into the greater pipeline network’s net-zero feature, the risks that “man camps” associated with industrial projects of this nature bring into communities are now on the company’s radar. Enbridge developed a Community Gender Safety (CAGS) Plan for the project in an attempt to address and mitigate the impacts that a temporary influx of working men can bring into a community. The plan fosters increased cultural awareness, incorporates human trafficking prevention, and outlines codes of conduct, among other aspects that intend to create respect for community policies.

Human resources are another challenge the project and community face, with an estimated 1,300 local jobs to fill. The timing of Enbridge’s announcement follows Canfor’s announcement of the Northwood Pulpmill closure by mere days. That closure represents about 300 layoffs, and hope has been expressed by Ministers in attendance at the BCR stockyard that a labour transition can occur between the two entities. When it comes to upskilling that cohort, or training a new workforce locally, the College of New Caledonia is the obvious choice for education. That institution made over 100 cuts to its workforce over the last two years though. To that end BC Minister Ravi Kahlon expressed, “Quite frankly the thing that stresses me out most from all the economic development, is how are we going to train enough people up for those opportunities.” The College had already taken advantage of the province’s doubling of trades funding amidst its cuts, but Federal Team Canada Strong funding Minister Kahlon referenced sounds promising.

While signatures now adorn a section of the 42” diameter pipe, and tires currently turn towards Minister Hodgson’s vision of Canada becoming an energy superpower, little Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh lays in the middle of a path where big interests shape a big picture.

20260720 - Enbridge Pipeline Announcement - Loops for the Sunrise Gas Expansion

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