The BC Liberal Environment critic says the province’s direction on slash burning is lacking.

Kamloops-North MLA Peter Milobar says in the NDP and Green’s Confidence and Supply Agreement there’s language about coming down hard on slash piles.

But he says there’s a lot questions that haven’t been answered.

“The government again has been very silent on what they’re intentions are, in terms of either carbon taxation on slash piles, banning the burning of slash altogether. Will there be funds from the increased carbon taxation to help companies innovate and use those slash piles in other ways, versus burning?” he says.

“None of those questions have been answered over the last two budgets that I’ve questioned the Environment Minister [George Heyman] on. And we’re heading into a third budget so hopefully he finally has some answers or a plan on how he plans to spend these hundreds of millions of dollars of carbon taxation that they’re bringing in.”

Milobar says questions on slash burning are creating uncertainty to some sectors of the forest industry.

He says the matter comes down to the overall strategy of CleanBC and carbon taxation, and he says the government has announced ideals but hasn’t given any clear direction on its plans.

(Photo: Adam Olsen MLA Facebook)