BILL NO. 87

(as introduced)

4th Session, 61st General Assembly
Nova Scotia
61 Elizabeth II, 2012

Government Bill

Good Forestry Management on Crown Land Act

The Honourable Charlie Parker
Minister of Natural Resources

First Reading: May 9, 2012

(Explanatory Notes)

Second Reading: May 10, 2012

Third Reading: May 17, 2012 (LINK TO BILL AS PASSED)

Clause 1 sets out the short title of this Act.

Clause 2 updates the definition of "Minister".

Clause 3 amends the Crown Lands Act in relation to forest-utilization licence agreements to

(a) require the Minister of Natural Resources to consider access to other primary forest products;

(b) permit the inclusion of provisions respecting sub-licensing in an agreement; and

(c) allow for longer terms.

1 This Act may be cited as the Good Forestry Management on Crown Land Act.

2 Clause 3(n) of Chapter 114 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Crown Lands Act, is amended by striking out "Lands and Forests" in the first and second lines and substituting "Natural Resources".

3 Subsections 32(2) to (4) of Chapter 114 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Crown Lands Act, are repealed and the following subsections substituted:

(2) When entering into an agreement pursuant to subsection (1), the Minister shall consider whether
(a) the availability of primary forest products from Crown lands will unfairly influence the marketability of such products from privately owned lands; and

(b) the agreement will unfairly limit access to other primary forest products, including hardwood, on Crown land.

(3) An agreement pursuant to subsection (1) may include provisions for sub-licensing and must contain such terms and conditions as are deemed necessary by the Minister and, subject to subsection (4), may not be for a period longer than twenty years.

(4) An agreement pursuant to subsection (1) may provide that in every tenth year of the agreement it may be extended, with or without change or amendments to the terms and conditions under which it was granted, for ten years so that the term of the agreement after each extension is twenty years.

5 Section 4 comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.