Good Morning Everyone,
I hope this message finds you well.

The NBFTA will be holding a virtual AGM this year on Saturday April 24 from 9am until 12pm.

We expect the AGM to run as it has in past years, including an update from MCFT on current operations, as well as updates from the Executive and Committees.  

A main point of discussion will once again be Right to Practice forestry in New Brunswick and if there is a desire to pursue legislation with the Association of Registered Professional Foresters of New Brunswick (ARPFNB).  Over the past 6 months, a joint Committee of the ARPFNB and the NBFTA have been engaged in discussions to develop proposed legislation to achieve Right to Practice (RTP) for professional forestry in New Brunswick.
The current definition of “Professional Forestry” under the proposed new Act would include:

The provision of services or undertakings which, because of their scope and implications respecting forests, forest lands, forest resources and forest ecosystems, require the specialized education, knowledge, training and experience of a registered member, and includes:
(a): designing, planning, directing or advising with respect to:
(i): the inventory, classification, appraisal, evaluation, and certification of forests and forest lands,
(ii); silviculture prescriptions and treatments of forest stands, including the harvesting of timber,
(iii); planning, locating and approving forest transportation systems, including forest roads,
(iv); conservation, reclamation, and renewal of forests and forest lands, and
(v); the protection of forests and forest lands;
(b): the preparation, review, amendment and approval of forest management and operating plans and administration of forest lands;
(c): assessing the impact of planned activities on forests, forest lands and forest ecosystems;(d): auditing, examining and verifying the results of planned activities on forests, forest lands and forest ecosystems;(e); assessing, estimating and analyzing the capability of forests, forest lands, and forest ecosystems to yield a flow of timber and other values;(f); teaching core forestry subjects as defined in the by-laws at a college, technical institute or university;

Though the Executive has views on the matter of RTP, we need your input as members on what the collective sees as the road ahead.

To attend the AGM, you must have your membership paid in full (or a commitment from your employer that the membership will be paid for those in a group situation).  Most should have received an invoice from the Treasurer, Chris Finnamore, if you have not received an invoice, please contact Chris at ckfinnamore@rogers.com .  To pay your membership, an e-transfer can be sent to: nbftatreasurer@gmail.com or cheque can be mailed to: New Brunswick Forest Technicians Association,1350 Regent Street, Fredericton, NB E3C 2G6
To register for the AGM, please send an email to Dusty Corey at dcorey@acadiantimber.com

I look forward to speaking with everyone and hopefully next year we can be back in person.

Thanks,
Riley

Riley Côté-DeMerchant
President, 
NBFTA 506-471-5342
riley.demerchant@gmail.com