Order to Halt Unauthorized Timber Harvest

The provincial government is taking action to halt unauthorized timber harvesting in Nova Scotia. Natural Resources Minister Kennie MacAskill announced in the legislature today that, effective immediately, all unauthorized harvesting on Crown lands must cease.

Mr. MacAskill made the announcement following a meeting with representatives of the Mi'kmaq Fish and Wildlife Commission. "Native harvesters will be given a reasonable period of time to remove machinery and equipment from sites where they have been cutting," said Mr. MacAskill. "However, if individual operators fail to co-operate or comply, they risk being charged under the Crown Lands Act or even the Criminal Code."

Efforts to negotiate an agreement for Crown land timber harvesting by natives have been underway since last November. During that time, more than a dozen meetings have been held with Mi'kmaq representatives.

In June, cabinet authorized Mr. MacAskill and Don Downe, Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, to negotiate, "without prejudice", an agreement on Crown land timber harvesting.

"We were given specific instructions that Mi'kmaq communities, not individuals, are to be the primary beneficiaries of any agreement," said Mr. MacAskill. "This would not include a commercial harvest for personal gain by private individuals. The unauthorized harvest has been just that, therefore it must cease."

Mr. MacAskill said his department is prepared to continue to negotiate with the Mi'kmaq to secure an agreement for a sustainable harvest of Crown timber for use by the Mi'kmaq community.

The minister also said the order to halt the unauthorized harvest will be enforced.