MP Cannings Reports on the Natural Resources Forum

In mid-January I attended the British Columbia Natural Resources Forum in Prince George.  This is one of the biggest gatherings of resource companies, government leaders and nongovernment organizations in Canada, and is always a good place to hear the latest news from that sector. I was happy to see federal Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr there, as I’d urged him last year to consider attending.  Opening the Forum from the heart of BC’s forest sector, Minister Carr concentrated on issues facing the forest industry, including beetle epidemics, fires and trade disputes.  He reiterated the need to diversify our markets, in part by diversifying our products to take advantage of the mass timber revolution in building. …The wealth of Canada has been built on our shared natural resources, and with careful planning to ensure a healthy environment, those resources will continue to be the backbone of our national economy.