I do see this as beneficial…

I do see this as beneficial in reducing red tape. It also provides many more opportunities for gathering of personal use logs and firewood. I do however have concern on the enforcement of the regulation changes. NDMNRF have limited resources to monitor this on a general basis. The qualification of standing dead or down wood is more than likely to be ignored and more standing timber along roads harvested for this purpose. Additionally, wood felled by commercial operations and left until a later time to pick up are likely to be taken by the public under the provision that timber was laying down and no harvesting equipment on site. Arguably a wood storage yard that is awaiting appropriate time to haul and where no equipment is present on site could be taken for fuelwood under this regulatory change. I would suggest that some additional parameter be included that would require forest operations to designate (possible signage) to identify down timber and debris available for personal use. Adequate staffing should be available to enforce the expansion of this regulation and appropriate penalties be in place for offenders.