B.C. ministers allude to measures to bolster resource sectorB.C. ministers allude to measures to bolster resource sector in COVID recovery Politicians talk about substantial initiatives to come that will bolster forestry, mining and energy in B.C.'s COVID-19 pandemic recovery. Publishing date: Jan 28, 2021 15 hours ago 3 minute read CP-Web. NDP MP Nathan Cullen rises in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Wednesday, October 25, 2017. Cullen says women and social media companies should be brought in to a critical discussion about how parliamentarians conduct themselves in the online word. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld ORG XMIT: CPT137 Nathan Cullen is B.C.'s Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resources. Photo by Adrian Wyld /THE CANADIAN PRESS Key B.C. cabinet ministers did not have big promises to announce for the provinces resource sector at a major industry forum this week. The politicians, however, talked about substantial initiatives to come that will bolster forestry, mining and energy in B.C.s COVID-19 pandemic recovery. The resource sector, throughout the pandemic, has been an absolute cornerstone for our economy, said Nathan Cullen, minister of state for lands and natural resources. He vowed that strengthening the industries for the next generation to come is the singular focus of my work. That will come through modernizing B.C.s land-use planning process, one of the major tasks Cullen was given, which will aim to create consistency and certainty for all sides in reviewing, approving and permitting major projects. Cullen spoke on a panel during the B.C. Natural Resources Forum with five key cabinet colleagues, which is typically an important venue for governments messaging to a central industry event. The forum, which is usually centred in Prince George, is taking place virtually this year against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is now stretching into its second year. And while the Northern Health Authority is working to contain a second wave of the virus along with the rest of the province, from an economic perspective, forestry, energy and mining in the region have helped cushion B.C. from the worst of the pandemics recession. It is not inaccurate to say that current major energy projects in the region Coastal GasLink, LNG Canada, Site C and (the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion) saved our economic bacon, as it were, said Joel McKay, CEO of the Northern Development Initiative Trust, writing in the introduction to his organizations annual State of the North report. Cullen, Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation Minister Bruce Ralston, Forests Lands and Natural Resources Operations Katrine Conroy, Environment and Climate Minister George Heyman, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Murray Rankin and Ravi Kahlon, the minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation, all took part in the forum. Their discussion reflected on some of the successes B.C. has experienced during the pandemic, such as the re-opening of 41 sawmills that were curtailed, putting 7,500 people back to work due to booming demand for lumber, as noted by Conroy. However, while times are good, Conroy said government wants to review government policies, legislation and practices to determine, What do we need to change to make sure were supporting the industry, making sure we are moving from volume to value in the products that industry produces. Kahlon mentioned the to-be-established $500-million Strategic Investment Fund that is part of governments Stronger B.C. recovery initiative as a potential boost to businesses in resource industries. The fund is supposed to be an investment to generate returns for B.C., but will be driven by government priorities related to innovation, sustainability and inclusiveness, Kahlon said. The fund is open to invest in any sector, (but) it is a great opportunity for the resource sector, for small and medium sized companies, Kahlon said, and will contribute to post-pandemic recovery. The discussion was also couched in terms of governments commitments to reconciliation with First Nations and to meeting climate targets under the provinces CleanBC initiative. Ralston said he expects those efforts will pay dividends to future generations in B.C. with increasing global interest among investors in so-called environmental, social and corporate-governance issues in resource development. So, the time is right for British Columbia, considering its objectives on those fronts, Ralston said, which leaves him very optimistic about what the future holds.