A ban on clearcutting may be canned by the province because of the cost of administering and enforcing a permit program. The Municipality of Chester has sent a letter to the Minister on behalf of small woodlot owners. Warden Alan Webber says following a presentation by the Ecology Action Centre, Council was asked to support an outright ban on clearcutting.Webber says in a general sense, at a high level Council agrees with the Centre's position, but are somewhat concerned with what
that means on the ground and how far Council goes in its support. He says there will be further dialogue before Council concludes it's final position.
The province is looking at alternate methods that will allow for the monitoring of clearcutting along with phased-in reduction targets.