To successfully implement…

To successfully implement the four pillars of the Ontario Government’s Forest Strategy and protect the broader public interest, the government will need to rely more heavily on competent and accountable forest professionals. Competent and accountable forest professionals who are legally required to protect the public’s interest can be called to objectively evaluate different forest management strategies in a transparent manner and help implement the solutions that are approved.

The Ontario Professional Foresters Association (OPFA) as the regulator of professional forestry in Ontario needs to be able to help. Access to competent and accountable professional foresters will ensure a vibrant forest sector. However, the current list of excluded occupations and trades in the Professional Foresters Act makes it very difficult to govern professional forestry. This will require updating the Professional Foresters Act, 2000 and Regulation and integrating these modifications in the changes in the Crown Forest Sustainability Act 1994 and its supporting implementation manuals.

I look forward to changes to the Professional Foresters Act, 2000 coming into effect and the positive role that the professional foresters can play in protecting the public interest.