Engagement

Our Approach

The Council’s recommendations will be built from the recommendations of the recent reviews, what was heard in past engagement on forestry-related topics and new ideas and perspectives. From those with deep expertise to those with lived experience, meaningful input comes from listening to a wide range of perspectives and the Council is appreciative of all input that can be shared.

With this in mind, the Council’s engagement process will use two complementary approaches:

 

  1. Targeted Engagement
  • The Council will set up meetings with selected organizations and individuals who have demonstrated a strong, strategic understanding of the topics for discussion. These participants will be asked to share their insights, experiences, and recommendations, in focused discussions designed to address key issues directly.
  • As part of this, PFAC will conduct targeted engagement with First Nations on the range of topics for discussion (particularly co-governance) and seek input from specific individuals, government ministries, and sectors on all relevant topics.

 

  1. Call for Input on Specific Topics
  • The Council recognizes that valuable ideas can come from anyone with an interest or stake in the outcome. For those not part of the targeted sessions, we will provide an open channel to share feedback via written email submissions or an online survey with targeted questions. This ensures everyone who wishes to contribute to the focused discussion can do so.

By combining targeted conversations with reviewing materials from past processes, we aim to gather well-rounded input that reflects both technical knowledge and community perspectives. This balanced approach helps ensure that the problem definition and ultimately the panel’s recommendations are informed by the diverse voices affected.

PFAC does not intend to publish a ‘what we heard’ document or to summarize the diversity of perspectives it receives. Rather, it is our goal to utilize this input to inform a plan for action that is realistic and implementable to achieve our objective.

Initial Topics We Are Exploring

Consistent with B.C. Government approved direction on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and the Old Growth Action Plan (OGAP), PFAC has begun engagement on the following targeted topics:

 

  1. Calibrating our starting point. Identification of the underlying state of BC’s infrastructure and the forest sector’s dependence on global markets.
  2. Co-Governance. Experience to date, including a respectful dialogue about the requirements for its evolution and what we do in advance of achieving it.
  3. Regional Planning & Decision Making. What is working and what isn’t? Requirements to improve timely and effective outcomes.
  4. BC’s Economic Model. What we mean by ‘a viable wood products industry,’ how we employ metrics, and what the underlying requirements are for a value-based sector.

The Council expects other engagement topics will emerge through these discussions. We will provide updates to reflect this evolution.

Phases of Engagement

Phase 1: Problem Definition

PFAC’s first round of engagement aims to clearly articulate underlying problems, provide a collectively developed vision of our desired future state, shortlist priority areas that need to be addressed, and start to formulate initial ideas on how to address the priority areas.

Phase 2: Addressing Key Themes & Solutions

The second phase will utilize the problem definition from phase 1 and focus on how to address the priority areas, with an implementable plan that moves as far as possible in the short-term, while also establishing a reliable path for implementation that moves us towards our desired future vision over the long-term.

How to Take Part

The Council will conduct targeted engagement with representatives from First Nations, industry, ENGOs, regional planning tables, BC’s investment community and more. See below for more information on how to take part:

Subject Matter Experts

  • Targeted engagement will take place with representatives from (in no particular order): investors, wood markets, wood products & value-added wood products manufacturers, industry associations, licensees (including community forest, and large & small tenure holders) and private land holders, power suppliers and residuals, regional planning tables and initiatives, forest workers and contractors, conservation groups, ecologists & other qualified professionals in forest research & development.
  • Anyone who falls into this category but is not contacted directly by the Council is invited to participate through emailed written submission or the survey.

First Nations

  • Targeted engagement will take place with First Nations and Indigenous organizations.
  • Individual First Nations are also invited to participate through written submission or the survey and can request a meeting through the channels highlighted below.

Government

  • Targeted engagement will take place with a wide spectrum of Provincial Government Ministries, external Provincial Government Advisory bodies, and Local Governments.
  • Anyone who falls into this category but is not contacted directly by the Council is invited to participate through emailed written submission or the survey.

General Public

    • The general public is invited to share their perspectives on targeted questions in the survey.

While the Council aims to hear from everyone who wishes to contribute, due to time limitations, we will not be able to hold meetings with every group or individual who requests one. However, our process will ensure that all the information shared with us will be reviewed and taken into consideration as PFAC works to achieve its stated objective.

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