WHEREAS the Pine Beetle epidemic has created a situation where residential property owners safety is at risk with dead or dying pine trees left standing waiting to fall over; AND WHEREAS many residential property owners, including seniors and those on low or fixed incomes, cannot afford the cost of infested tree removal; AND WHEREAS municipalities do not have the resources to remove Pine Beetle trees from residential properties; AND WHEREAS owners of parcels of land smaller than 10 hectares have been excluded from the 40 million land rehabilitation initiative: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities lobby the provincial and federal governments to declare the Pine Beetle infestation in the Province of BC a natural disaster and provide the needed financial assistance to municipalities, local governments and individual property owners to help eliminate the hazards associated with the Pine Beetle infestation.
Ministry of Forests and Range The Province of British Columbia clearly recognizes that the mountain pine beetle infestation is a natural disaster. We have received 100 million in federal funding, which is being directed to community economic diversification planning, reducing interface fire risks, spread control measures, ecosystem restoration and reforestation. Protecting public health and safety, as well as ensuring long-term economic sustainability for affected communities, are clearly stated objectives of the provincial Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan for 2005-2010, which was developed with the input of communities and other key stakeholders. Through measures such as the Northern Development Initiative Trust and funding to the regional coalitions, the provincial government is giving beetle-impacted communities the ability to help determine their own futures.
PRIME MINISTERS OFFICE Liberal Government On behalf of the Right Honourable Paul Martin, I would like to acknowledge receipt of your letter of October 25, with which you enclosed several resolutions of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities UBCM. You may be assured that the view expressed in the resolutions have been carefully considered. As copies of your correspondence have already been sent to the Ministers within whose responsibilities these matters fall, I am certain that they will have appreciated receiving this information. NATURAL RESOURCES CANADA Liberal Government As part of Budget 2005, the Honourable David Emerson, Minister of Industry, announced a 100-million grant to British Columbia to help combat the mountain pine beetle infestation. This federal grant will assist the British Columbia government in fighting the beetle and mitigating impacts on communities and the forest ecosystem. Additionally, Natural Resources Canada is delivering a 40-million Mountain Pine Beetle Initiative. The land-based programs for private forestlands under this initiative are intended to assist in beetle control and post-beetle forest rehabilitation for non-industrial forestlands or woodlots managed for forest products. The departments Canada Wood Program is also working with industry to develop the market for Canadian lumber. Improved market opportunities would complement British Columbias objectives to salvage additional volumes of post-beetle timber. Western Economic Diversification Canada has also contributed approximately 5 million for mountain pine beetle-related projects.