Vancouver Island First Nation approves 96 per cent of proposed old-growth deferrals on its land
The Huu-ay-aht First Nations on western Vancouver Island have approved deferrals to old-growth logging in most of the area the province proposed for deferrals last month.
On Nov. 1, B.C. proposed a two-year deferral on old-growth logging across roughly 2.6 million hectares of old-growth forest in the province.
The province then asked affected First Nations to respond to the proposed deferrals within 30 days.
Now, the Huu-ay-aht First Nations says it has approved the two-year deferral for 96 per cent of the forest that the province proposed to defer on its land.
The nation says the remaining four per cent involves logging operations that are already underway.
"These deferrals would have an impact on small portions of many different harvest areas in a variety of ways, including making entire harvest areas uneconomic or inaccessible or making the deferred portion subject to forest health concerns such as windthrow," said the Huu-ay-aht First Nations in a release Wednesday.
The nation adds that the harvest areas impact local workers as well as workers from Bamfield and the Alberni Region.
The nation says it has 153,773 hectares of productive forest on its land, of which 33 per cent – or 51,240 hectares – is considered "old forest," which is defined as trees that are at least 250 years old.
The province had proposed deferring 29 per cent of the old forest on Huu-ay-aht First Nations land, or 14,754 hectares.
The nation says that most of that deferral has been approved, with just 645 hectares, or four per cent, not approved for deferral.
"As a Modern Treaty Nation, Huu-ay-aht will decide how best to manage our lands and resources guided by our three Sacred Principles of ʔiisaak (utmost respect), ʔuuʔałuk (taking care of), and hišuk ma c̕awak (everything is one)," said Tayii Ḥaw̓ił ƛiišin, (Head Hereditary Chief Derek Peters).
"We expect broad recognition and respect for our old growth two-year deferral decisions and our long-term forest and resource stewardship decisions," he said.
The nation notes that most of the area that the province proposed logging deferrals in are already protected by other existing conservation measures or had no immediate plans for harvesting.
The Huu-ay-aht First Nations adds that its decision Wednesday is only preliminary. A final decision on the deferrals is expected in mid-January. The nation is also working on a two-year integrate resource management plan that's expected to be completed in 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.