Tourism, redevelopment of brown field sites, a second jobs fair and continued work on the fibre supply analysis are some of the initiatives said will help the economic recovery efforts in 亚洲天堂 Lake.

Bell said the province is continuing to focus its efforts on 亚洲天堂 Lake, following the last month.

During a media conference held last week, Bell announced that Peter Harrison, the director of partnership marketing for will be working on a specific tourism strategy for the local area. Minister Bell said Harrison had successfully worked on more than 100 individual strategies to boost tourism in other small communities.

鈥淭he focus will be on improving tourism opportunities to stimulate economic activity in 亚洲天堂 Lake this summer,鈥� he said.

Minister Bell said one project that could be expanded is the annual. 鈥淲e could expand the festival activities to cover an entire weekend,鈥� he said.

鈥淲orking closely with members of the community, business leaders, the Northern British Columbia Tourism Association and ., ministry staff will refresh planning previously undertaken in 2009 through the Province鈥檚 Community Tourism Foundations program to help identify any existing tourism development challenges and prioritize opportunities to support the local tourism industry,鈥� Minister Bell said adding that, 亚洲天堂 Lake and the entire Lake鈥檚 District is recognized by travellers for its unique beauty and its activity based experiences such as mountain biking.

Anthony Everett, chief economic officer of Northern British Columbia Tourism Association said, 鈥淭ourism is a great way for 亚洲天堂 Lake residents to celebrate their pride of place and further efforts to help the community recover.鈥�

When asked how much of an impact increased tourism to the area will have on economic recovery, Minister Bell said he didn鈥檛 feel it was a final solution, but indicated it would be a step forward in economic recovery efforts.

The has been approved for up to $9,200 in cooperative tourism marketing funding to assist in the production of a community trail map and mountain bike brochure, and to updating their photo image bank.

Minster Bell also said work on the fibre supply analysis is continuing and that a second beetle boss, Ray Schultz, is also being added to Bob Clark鈥檚 team to help.

鈥淩ay Schultz is retired from the Ministry of Forests and was the beetle boss for the Kamloops area,鈥� he said, adding that the addition of Schultz to the team will bolster the already strong team that is working on the fibre supply analysis.

Bell said they are also looking at issues around timber constraints and area based tenures as a way to maximize the fibre supply. 鈥淲e expect to have something to present to the government within the next few weeks, after that we will be able to move into discussions with First Nations and Hampton Affiliates on the available options. We are making good progress.鈥�

In the short term, 22,000 cubic meters of wood will be harvested to help keep up and running. Pinnacle Pellet is situated near the Babine Forest Products sawmill and it relies on wood waste from the sawmill for its operations.

Minister Bell says that volume will just get Pinnacle Pellet through to spring break up, however long term solutions for Pinnacle Pellet are being looked at.

He said the province is also ramping up the 鈥楩orests for Tomorrow鈥� program in 亚洲天堂 Lake over the summer. The program focusses on replanting seedlings in place of logged off mountain pine beetle killed trees. Bell said the program will not only create summer jobs, but will also provide sustainable forests into the future.

鈥淎 second jobs fair could also be held in 亚洲天堂 Lake in mid March, possibly in conjunction with the College of New Caledonia,鈥� Minister Bell said.

He said this time, as well as available industry based employment opportunities, tourism job opportunities would also be a focus.

As for the success of the Feb. 10 jobs fair held in 亚洲天堂 Lake, Minster Bell said it has proven difficult to track. 鈥淎s far as I can determine 40 positions have been offered, with more job offers pending.鈥�

As reported in the46 people were able to get an interview and 11 people were hired on the spot.

The three brown field sites in 亚洲天堂 Lake [the Ministry of Transportation and Highways yard, on Francois Lake Drive, the Husky Oil Ltd. site on the corner of Hwy. 16 and Government St. and the Shell Canada Products site, which is located adjacent to the Husky site] are also on the province鈥檚 radar as potential for future economic development in 亚洲天堂 Lake.

Bell said the province is organizing an economic development forum in 亚洲天堂 Lake on March 7 and during the forum a plan will be made for the redevelopment of the three disused sites.

鈥淎ll three are in a prime location in town .... first we will be looking at investments to clean up the sites and bring in light equipment, after that we will be looking at what will be commercially applicable for the sites.鈥�

Bell said he hopes that investors will find the sites desirable for motels or other tourism related facilities.

Lakes District 亚洲天堂 asked Minister Bell about the growing concerns faced by independent logs sellers in the local area

As reported in the Lakes District 亚洲天堂 edition of Feb. 22, 2012, concerns have been raised about the future of the local competitive log market.

With the loss of a major player in the area, competition decreases and prices drop.

Bell said that the loss of Babine Forest Products is a definite concern but added that there is still plenty of competition in the area to keep prices stable.

鈥淭here is a number of log buyers in the area including Conifex, West Fraser Timber, , L & M Lumber Co. in Vanderhoof, and the Newpro particle board plant in Smithers.鈥�

鈥淭he focus remains on rebuilding the Babine Forest Products sawmill,鈥� Bell said.