BILL 39

An Act to Amend the Crown Lands and Forests Act

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, enacts as follows:

1 The Crown Lands and Forests Act, chapter C-38.1 of the Acts of New Brunswick, 1980, is amended by adding after section 36 the following:

Offer to transfer a license

36.1(1) The Minister, with the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, may offer to transfer a Crown timber license

(a)  to a company that was formed for the purpose of carrying out forest management responsibilities in the boundaries of Crown Lands described in the license, or

(b)  to any other company, institution or person able to carry out forest management responsibilities in the boundaries of Crown Lands described in the license.

36.1(2) Despite sections 28 and 29 or any other provision of this Act or the regulations, the holder of the Crown timber license transferred under this section shall not be required

(a)  to own or operate a wood processing facility in the Province or to undertake by agreement with the Minister to construct and operate a wood processing facility in the Province, or

(b)  to submit an industrial plan.

36.1(3) A Crown timber license transferred under this section shall be subject to any amendment of the term or any condition of the license, or of the boundaries of Crown Lands subject to the license, as the Minister, with the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, considers necessary and subject to the requirement that the holder of the license enter into a forest management agreement with the Minister.