The mayor of Clearwater says the fight to keep the Canfor mill in Vavenby open may be over but a new one is shaping up over the sale of the mill’s timber license.

Canfor is selling its forest tenure for 60 million dollars to Interfor something that Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell says is of “deep concern” for his community.

“I think that is actually one of the biggest concerns. The mill itself, its viability, I don’t know how much Canfor is really invested in the long term of the mill.”

What if anything can the community do?

“Under Bill 22 community consultation is there but this is the first test. We know there is some speculation as to what side of the passing of Bill 22 this falls under. I think First Nations would definitely have a say in this. At this point we are on new ground. I think two years ago we pretty much wouldn’t have a say at all.”

Blackwell says mill workers he has spoken to say they would like to see the brakes put on the tenure license deal in order to factor in local impacts and the provincial government’s move to renew the forestry industry.