Premier's Letter to Minister of State for Forestry Operations

January 26, 2004

Honourable Roger Harris
Minister of State for Forestry Operations

Dear Colleague:

Since June 2001, our government has been working to implement our New Era vision to revitalize the economy, restore sound fiscal management, and put patients and students first.

Our New Era platform contained 201 specific commitments that our government would undertake on behalf of British Columbians. These included a commitment "to establish service plans that include measurable performance standards and targets for all programs that are annually audited and published, for all taxpayers to see." The Service Plan tabled today represents the final year of the first three-year plans. And it shows that we have made significant progress toward honouring our commitments.

In the coming year, the province will continue to work on a number of priorities to honour the commitments that we have made. These are detailed in the Ministry's Service Plan, and include:

• Encourage an appropriate level of economic activity through the BC Timber Sales program.
• Develop policies to encourage growth in the value added sector.
• Ensure effective implementation of the community forest awards processes.
• Assist the Minister of Forests to assure the Forest Revitalization Plan is operationalized throughout the province in a way that reflects regional diversity.
• Oversee implementation of the forest health strategies designed to minimize the spread of mountain pine beetle, optimize utilization of beetle damaged timber, and restore forest health and productivity.
  

It is important to note that all of the province's achievements to date, and our priorities for the year ahead, will be accomplished while balancing the budget in 2004/05, and having significantly increased funding for health care and education.

Clearly, we will do more if we can, as new resources are available, to build on the funding priorities detailed in this Service Plan – in a way that is consistent with our balanced budget commitment.

As our measures to revitalize the economy continue to create new jobs, growth and investment, this will allow us to continue strengthening public services for the benefit of British Columbians. Opportunities like the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will showcase British Columbia to the world and generate economic benefits all across our province. Future service plans will further demonstrate those benefits.

Let me conclude by thanking you for your commitment to serving the best interests of all British Columbians.

Yours sincerely,

Honourable Gordon Campbell
Premier