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AGM News, Notices, Right To Practice

2023 AGM Announcement

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The NBFTA will be holding an in-person AGM this year with a virtual option for those who cannot make it in person.

The AGM will be held on March 25, 2023 @ 10am at the Maritime College of Forest Technology in Fredericton, NB.

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

We will be continuing our discussion with Right to Practice and deciding if we would like to conitinue with this initiative in partnership with the ARPFNB. It is important for you to attend in order to hear what is being proposed and for us to hear your voices and perspectives.

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 virtual option of the AGM, please send an email to Dusty Corey at dcorey@acadiantimber.com.

Thanks,
Riley

Riley Côté-DeMerchant
Secretary
NBFTA


AGM News

2021 AGM Annoucement

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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

From the President, Right To Practice

ARPFNB correspondence re Technicans/Technologists Exemption to Bill 22 and our response.

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The President of the NBFTA, Gareth Davies, has an announcement to make. This has been done in collaboration with some members of the Executive who have been available this long weekend. Late on Thursday afternoon some members of the NBFTA and select few other individuals received correspondence from Ed Czerwinski, Executive Director of the ARPFNB (posted below Gareth’s message).

At the conclusion of this posting I, Todd MacPherson, have added a brief editorial on this latest development.

To the NBFTA membership:

Mr. Ed Czerwinski sent the NBFTA another letter on April 5, 2012, stating that the ARPFNB intends to insert, in Bill 22, an exclusion for forest techs. Please read his letters below. Mr. Czerwinski sent the NBFTA a letter on March, 22, 2012 claiming that they had already inserted this exclusion in the legislation. This was discussed by our membership at the NBFTA AGM on March 29, 2012. At the AGM, our membership agreed to continue opposing the legislation with or without the exclusion. Bill 22 did not contain this exclusion when it had First Reading in the NB Legislature on March 30, 2012. Bill 22 may or may not contain this exclusion when it is examined by the Standing Committee on Private Bills on April 12, 2012.

The NBFTA cannot stop opposing this. Our AGM on March 29, 2012 was publicly advertised. If the ARPFNB wished to convince our membership that Bill 22 excludes forest techs, then they could have been on the agenda of our AGM.

REMEMBER this: the ARPFNB is not offering to change the definition of “Right to Practice”. They are only offering an “Exclusion” for forest techs.

Under section 25, “Right to Practice” Bill 22 states:

“25 No person shall practise professional forestry in New

Brunswick, either privately or employed by another, unless

registered to practise under the provisions of this Act

and the by-laws.”

The NBFTA cannot stop opposing this unless under “Right to Practice” it clearly only applies to university-graduate “foresters”.

If, and only if, the ARPFNB shows us a draft of Bill 22 with a fundamentally changed definition of “Right to Practice”, then we would put it on the agenda of our next Executive Meeting, and next year’s AGM.

We MUST stay focused.

This is not about forest techs vs. foresters vs. forestry practitioners vs. whoever.

This is about a PRIVATE BILL (meaning private interest) that states that all those that practice forestry must be registered members of the ARPFNB.

The NBFTA has a mandate and a duty to oppose this legislation on behalf of all forest techs.

The practice of forestry relies on all forestry practitioners, not just “foresters” and “forest techs”.

We cannot stop opposing this until this so-called private bill actually becomes private, meaning their “Right to Practice” definition only applies to their membership.

Gareth Davies

President, NBFTA

This is one of two emails received from Ed Czerwinski, Executive Director ARPFNB

To whom it may concern,

An explicit exclusion for all forest technicians and forest technologists was prepared and sent to the ARPFNB lawyer on March 20.  Clearly, it did not make it into Bill 22 before it received first reading on March 30.

I assured all of you that it would be done, so I have to accept responsibility.  The lawyers office feels they have significant responsibility in this regard as well.

Once again, I stress to you, members of the NBFTA, MCFT, or other forest technicians or technologists working in New Brunswick, that there was never any intent to make you, “illegal”.

The amendment to Bill 22 has been prepared, and will be presented on April 12, by the ARPFNB lawyer.

Please see the official amendment attached.

Thank you.

Ed Czerwinski, RPF

*****************************************************

To All ARPFNB Members and the Forest Community..

The Association of Registered Professional Foresters of New Brunswick (ARPFNB) presented to our Legislative Assembly a revised version of “An Act to Incorporate the Association of Registered Professional Foresters of New Brunswick“.  The main objective of this new Act is to move from Right to Title as Registered Professional Foresters (RPF) to Right to Practice (RTP), for our members.  This initiative provides protection to the public by ensuring competent, independent, professional conduct and integrity of registered professional foresters who manage private and publicly-owned forest resources.  It is important that all foresters be accountable for their actions.

The proposed Act as amended does not impose any requirements, restrictions or limitations on forest technicians or forest technologists who may be working within the practice of professional forestry as defined in the Act, and who are competent to do so by virtue of their education and training.  That exclusion reads:

“Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent persons from performing work within the definition of the practice of professional forestry provided they are graduates of a forest technician or forest technology program acting within the scope of their training and competence,”

Additionally, the proposed Act does allow for those individuals/employees without a forest technician/technology diploma, but are competent through their experience to obtain a “special permit”, to continue working in the area of their expertise, should that work fall within the definition of the “practice of professional forestry”.

It is our sincere belief that Right to Practice will achieve the high standards required in the practice of professional forestry for New Brunswick.  The professional forestry associations in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec have had similar legislation for many years.  In addition, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador as well as Saskatchewan are currently pursuing legislation with mandatory registration for foresters in their respective provinces.

Members of the ARPFNB place tremendous value on the great working relationship that foresters, forest technicians, forest technologists, and other forest community members have always enjoyed.  Members of the ARPFNB look forward to continue working together as a team for the best management of our forest resources.

Sincerely,

Ed Czerwinski, R.P.F.

Executive Director

Association of Registered Professional Foresters of New Brunswick

1350 Regent Street, Suite 221

Fredericton, NB

E3C 2G6

Website: www.arpfnb.ca

Email: arpf@nbnet.nb.ca

At the end of this posting I will embed the document that he attached.

Here is the content of another email sent directly to the NBFTA President, Gareth Davies (note the time and date please) :

From: Ed Czerwinski [email address removed for privacy as it was his work email]
Sent: April-05-12 2:56 PM
To: Davies, Gareth; ‘Gareth Davies’
Subject: FW: Amended s. 52 of “Exclusion” Wording for ARPFNB Act

Gareth,

Please share with the NBFTA members.

An explicit exclusion for all forest technicians and forest technologists was prepared and sent to the lawyer on March 20. Clearly, it did not make it into Bill 22 before it received first reading on March 30.

I assured you that it would be done, so I have to accept responsibility, the lawyers office feels they have significant responsibility as well.

Once again, I stress to you, the members of the NBFTA, MCFT, or other forest technicians or technologists working in New Brunswick, that there was never any intent to make them, “illegal”.

The amendment to Bill 22 has been prepared, and will be presented on April 12, by the lawyer.

Please see the attachment.

Sincerely,

Ed

Ed Czerwinski, R.P.F.

Executive Director

Association of Registered Professional Foresters of New Brunswick

1350 Regent Street, Suite 221

Fredericton, NB

E3C 2G6

Website: www.arpfnb.ca

Subject: RE: Amended s. 52 of “Exclusion” Wording for ARPFNB Act

Matt,

As per your instructions below, attached is the amendment to be presented by Mr. Norman at the Committee hearing. You cannot renumber the paragraphs, so I simply added a new (b.1).

Any concerns let me know,

Shayne

Subject: RE: Amended s. 52 of “Exclusion” Wording for ARPFNB Act

I’ll prepare the amendment and send to you and Mr. Norman. As I stated, it will be up to Mr. Norman to present the amendment to the Committee for its consideration.

Subject: Amended s. 52 of “Exclusion” Wording for ARPFNB Act

Hi Shayne,

Thank you again for drafting the necessary amendment form. I know you are busy, so it’s much appreciated.

The only amendment will be to section 52 by adding a new subsection (c). I’ve included the entire section in both languages below.

52 Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent persons from

(a) carrying out functions on their own land and for their own purposes that may include the practice of professional forestry,

(b) performing the work of a forester-in-training or student, provided such work is performed under the direct supervision of a registered member who takes responsibility for the work,

(c) performing work within the definition of the practice of professional forestry provided they are graduates of a forest technician or forest technology program acting within the scope of their training and competence,

(d) practising engineering or geoscience under the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act,

(e) practising land surveying under the New Brunswick Land Surveyors Act, 1986,

(f) practising agrology under the Agrologists’ Profession Act, 2004,

(g) carrying on any profession or occupation authorized by an Act of the Province of New Brunswick,

or requires such persons to become registered under this Act to perform such functions.

52 La présente loi n’empêche pas d’exercer les fonctions suivantes ni n’oblige personne à se faire immatriculer sous le régime de la présente loi pour exercer ces fonctions :

a) des travaux effectués sur ses propres terres et pour ses propres besoins, même dans l’exercice de la foresterie professionnelle;

b) des travaux effectués par un forestier stagiaire ou un étudiant, pourvu qu’ils se fassent sous la surveillance directe et la responsabilité d’un membre immatriculé;

c) des travaux visés par la définition de l’exercice de la foresterie professionnelle, s’ils sont effectués par un diplômé d’un programme en techniques de foresterie ou en technologie forestière exerçant dans son champ de formation et de compétence;

d) l’exercice de la profession d’ingénieur ou de géoscientifique sous le régime de la Loi sur les professions d’ingénieur et de géoscientifique;

e) l’exercice de l’activité d’arpentage sous le régime de la Loi de 1986 sur les arpenteurs-géomètres du Nouveau-Brunswick;

f) l’exercice de la profession d’agronome sous le régime de la Loi de 2004 sur la profession d’agronome;

g) l’exercice de toute profession ou de tout métier sous le régime d’une loi du Nouveau-Brunswick.

Editorial from Todd MacPherson, Past President NBFTA

The NBFTA has been open and transparent with its members throughout this process. Members of the Executive and General Membership have been working on this all weekend as best as possible. Thank you for your continued support.

I am personally aware of letters written to Ed Czerwinski, at least one RPF included, questioning this action. I suggest that you also express your personal feeling directly to him through the email address given above. This came out mid-afternoon on the beginning of a long weekend.The finished document had been in the hands of the ARPFNB and their lawyer for approximately 10 days before being presented at first reading in the legislature.  Please note that this exemption had been in a previous draft of the bill and then removed. During the 10-day window our AGM was held. If this exemption had been there then, we could have properly addressed it with the membership at our AGM on March 29, 2012.

It is impossible for us, as an Executive, to address this properly with our members prior to the Standing Committee on April 12th. NBFTA members were made aware of the exemption possibility at the AGM, yet no motion was made to overturn our opposition to Bill 22. As the NBFTA has said since at least 2009, the overall process has been flawed and continues to be flawed.

The ARPFNB has stated that they want a good working relationship with technicians and technologists. We agree and withdrawing Bill 22 would be a good start in that direction.

We continue to oppose Bill 22. Please send your letters of opposition to the Standing Committee ASAP.

click here to download the amendment or read it below

Right To Practice

Bill 22: letter of opposition guidelines

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This is for anyone trying to figure out how to voice their concern over the right to practice legislation in a letter of opposition. If you work or know anyone working any type of forestry job this act affects you. Even if you are a member of ARPFNB this act affects you.

Your letter does not need to be fancy or professionally done. The committee members just want to know why you object to the bill and that you may lose your job or lose workers. A few lines will do. If your interest or property may be affected by this bill, please write the Standing Committee on Private bills a letter of opposition and have it sent in before April 11th. The Bill is going to second reading on April 12th. The best way for everyone to voice their concern is in writing.

Some guidelines for your email letter of opposition:

Address the letter to:

Dear Members of the Standing committee on Private Bills,

Send your letter of Opposition to the committee members (all of them, just copy and paste): Carl.Killen@gnb.ca; Danny.Soucy@gnb.ca; jim.parrott@gnb.ca; jake.stewart@gnb.ca;  Sherry.Wilson@gnb.ca; Bertrand.LeBlanc@gnb.ca; Roger.L.Melanson@gnb.ca

Subject line: Opposing Bill 22: An Act to Incorporate the Association of Registered Professional Foresters of New Brunswick

Things you may want to write about:

    • You may want to state You wish you were consulted by the ARPFNB in the drafting of this legislation because you do not agree with the power they will hold over the forest industry if this passes.
    • You may want to say Forest tech’s will no longer be able to practice forestry in NB, only university graduates.
    • You may not agree with the mandatory membership
    • You may not agree with the authority they will be given to charge people for violations of the rules they have the discretion to make up.
    • Any reasons you want are valid to state. They want to know.

*If you would like to appear before the standing committee on Private bills to read your letter and/or speak your concerns, please call the assistant clerk of the legislative assembly to schedule time. The more people who do this the better! (But in the very least send in a letter!) Call Shayne Davies 453-2162.

Rebecca Jones

Treasurer, NBFTA

Right To Practice

The NBFTA Position on Right to Practice: A quick version

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In response to members of the ARPFNB publicly posting correspondence to us on this website I think a condensed version of our position is in order:

FACT: There is no exclusion clause for Forest Technicians and Technologists in Bill 22. It was there and the ARPFNB removed it.

FACT: A broad range of Stakeholders were identified and agreed to by both Executives of the NBFTA and ARPFNB in 2009/2010. Letters of support were requested from these Stakeholders, none were received. Some letters of rejection were received.

That is what led to the NBFTA rejecting Bill 22.

At the end of the day the Stakeholders have overwhelmingly rejected Right to Practice in its current form.

Notices, Right To Practice

NBFTA Open Letter Opposing ARPFNB Right-To-Practice Proposed Legislation. Contact your MLA

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Hello

As per the NBFTA membership mandate, the Executive has issued a public statement in opposition to the ARPFNB Right-To-Practice Proposed Legislation. To do your part, as a member of the NBFTA, we ask that you contact your MLA and voice your concerns over this proposed legislation.

NBFTA Official Response in Opposition to Proposed Right-to-Practice Legislation

ARPFNB’s final draft of proposed legislation

Link to MLA email contact list

Forestry In The News, From the President, Right To Practice

Letter to the Editor: Key stakeholders have had no voice Re: Proposed foresters legislation

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The following appeared in The Daily Gleaner on Thursday November 17th, 2011

Key stakeholders have had no voice

Re: Proposed foresters legislation

On behalf of the New Brunswick Forest Technicians Association (NBFTA), I wish to respond to the legal notice posted by the Association of Registered Professional Foresters of New Brunswick (ARPFNB), on Oct. 14.

The NBFTA had been involved in the drafting of this proposed legislation entitled “An Act to Incorporate the Association of Registered Professional Foresters of New Brunswick,” and voted to oppose this proposed legislation on April 7.

This proposed legislation intends to define the profession of forestry and its accountability, and establish disciplinary procedures and offenses for violations. The implications of defining the forestry profession and its accountability will have profound effects on the entire N.B. forest sector. The NBFTA believes this proposed legislation must receive the formal participation and support of key stakeholders.

Key stakeholders have not participated in the drafting of this proposed legislation. The ARPFNB has failed to get any letters of support for this proposed legislation from key stakeholders.

The NBFTA represents professional forest technicians and technologists in the province. Professional forest technicians and technologists play a vital role throughout the New Brunswick forest sector. The NBFTA is not opposed to professional certification and accountability, but it is opposed to this proposed legislation and the process in which it was drafted.

Due to the social and economic importance of the forest sector to the province of New Brunswick, this proposed legislation is of general public concern. The NBFTA cannot support this proposed legislation.

A detailed account of our position can be found on the NBFTA website: http://www.nbfta.org/

Gareth Davies

President, NBFTA

AGM News, Forestry In The News, Right To Practice

The New Brunswick Forest Technicians Association votes to reject Draft Document and Process for Right to Practice Legislation

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The New Brunswick Forest Technicians Association votes to reject Draft Document and Process for Right to Practice Legislation

To Whom It May Concern;

At the Annual General Meeting of the New Brunswick Forest Technicians Association (NBFTA) on April 7th, 2011 the Membership voted on Right to Practice Legislation.

The Members were asked to cast their vote as either “Yes” or “No” on the following statement:

“I support the Act to Incorporate the Association of New Brunswick Forestry Professionals”.

The vote results were as follows:

25 Votes Cast

Yes Votes: 2 (8%)

No Votes: 23 (92%)

The vote was cast after a presentation from Dr. Roger Roy, President of the Association of Registered Professional Foresters of New Brunswick (ARPFNB) on Right to Practice (RTP), followed by a question and answer session. After Dr. Roy left the meeting the Membership discussed the issue and then a motion was made to conduct the vote.

Following this vote, and much focused discussion, the NBFTA has concluded that it cannot support and must now oppose the ARPFNB’s proposed RTP legislation. The NBFTA believes that the process by which the RTP document has been produced is fundamentally flawed thus yielding a flawed document. Further, this process has failed to gain the necessary participation of a broad base of the New Brunswick forest sector.

Based on Membership feedback, the NBFTA’s reasons for rejecting the current RTP document are as follows:

  • The NBFTA required written letters of support from stakeholders when we became partners in the RTP process with the ARPFNB. This requirement had been previously agreed to by the ARPFNB, yet, as of the writing of this letter, none have been received. Generally speaking, the NBFTA Membership was not satisfied with the explanation given by the ARPFNB regarding why there are no letters of support.
  • The RTP document has been changed significantly, from the early stages, when all forestry practitioners would be required to work within their competencies and continue their education. This is no longer the case in the current RTP document.
  • Changes to the RTP document were made without any consultation with the NBFTA before voting for the changes. Rather than standing up for the original proposal, which was agreed upon by our two Associations, the ARPFNB chose to make significant changes to bring some of their members on board.
  • Because of changes to the definition of forestry, the RTP document no longer requires that all practitioners become registered and, in fact, contains an ‘out’ clause which, in effect, would allow one person to assume the entire responsibility for an organization, no matter its size. If public accountability is the goal of the RTP document then this ‘out’ clause does a disservice to the public. In the opinion of the NBFTA the RTP document does not have anything to do with the best interest of the general public.
  • The RTP Document has been changed and approved by a small number of members of the ARPFNB, yet non-members, who are practicing Foresters in New Brunswick, have had little or no input. The NBFTA finds this most troubling; that an organization would attempt to force something on professionals without allowing them to participate in the process.
  • From the Government of New Brunswick website (underlined sections are important because the proposed Act would affect the rights and interests of many others not included, such as Technologists, and other forestry practitioners not represented by either association):  Private Bills are those relating to private or local matters or for the particular interest or benefit of any person, corporation or municipality. Private Bills are not usually promoted by members of the Legislature, but by outside persons or bodies. They confer special powers upon companies, municipalities and private persons and are not of general public concern. Therefore, before any special favour of this nature is granted, the Legislative Assembly requires to be satisfied that no other rights or interests would be prejudiced by granting the special legislation sought to be obtained.

In conclusion the NBFTA feels that the approach to RTP has been a flawed process due to lack of written stakeholder support, changing the RTP Document without NBFTA consultation, resulting in sacrificing any apparent public good or accountability to the public by forestry professionals.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the New Brunswick Forest Technicians Association;

 

Todd MacPherson, Past President

AGM News, From the President, Right To Practice

ARPFNB Set to vote on Right to Practice

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Hello

The Association of Professional Foresters of New Brunswick have sent a cover letter and a copy of the proposed Act to its membership as a precursor to a to an online vote scheduled to run from February 21, 2011 – March 4th, 2011.

From the cover letter:

On February 21st , you will receive an email from ClearPicture, a company from Nova Scotia that will conduct a fair and anonymous electronic voting procedure. Please follow the instructions and respect the deadlines indicated. Voting will open on February 21st and close March 4th, 2011. If the Association does not have an email address for you, then you will have received this notice and instructions for voting by post mail.

For years the NBFTA Executive has been working on Right-to-Practice on behalf of Technicians and Technologists working in New Brunswick. Based on a membership vote, at a Nov 2009 emergency meeting, the Executive was giving a clear mandate on how to proceed with RTP. Our mandate was lost for two reasons:

1 – There are no letters of support from stakeholders.
2 – The definition of forestry in the final draft of the Act has changed.

We, as an organization, need to decide what is best for New Brunswick Forests and what is best for Forest Technicians and Technologists.

I have attached the cover letter and French and English versions of the final draft of the Act. This is required reading for anyone who wants to see how this document, if becomes legislation, will affect your profession.

As I outlined in my previous blog post you really need to be involved in this process. We do not want the decisions of a few influencing the lives of so many so get involved and show up at our AGM on April 7th, 2011 at 1PM in Moncton.

COVER LETTER | FRENCH VERSION OF ACT | ENGLISH VERSION OF ACT

You can view the ARPFNB announcement on their website by clicking here.

Bye for now.

Todd MacPherson,

President