ROGERSVILLE – The following is a statement released by Kevin Arseneau, the Green critic for rural affairs and MLA for Kent North, in reaction to the government’s announcement that it has amended the regulations of the Buildings Code Act to exempt accessory buildings, such as sheds, from being required to use stamped lumber.

“This is great news for New Brunswickers. This reversal was the only right thing for the government to do, but it is a short-term fix. A system needs to be put in place to certify the timber sawn by small producers so that this timber could be used in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. In addition, a complete overhaul of the forest industry must see the light of day in order to allow community allocations in order to make more room for small sawmills, small timber producers and the establishment of a local timber market by encouraging cooperation and short supply chain models.