The B.C. Natural Resource Forum begins this morning at the Prince George Civic Centre with introductions and welcome from Prince George-Mackenzie MLA and provincial jobs minister Pat Bell and Lheidli T'enneh chief Dominic Frederick at 9:15 a.m.
Former federal minister Stockwell Day will give the morning keynote address, 9:45 to 10 a.m.
From 10:25 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the provincial bio-economy committee which includes Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad and Cariboo North MLA Bob Simpson, will host a panel session.
Carbon Offset Aggregation Cooperative chair Mary Anne Arcand will speak about the project and how it can help truckers and heavy equipment operators get added saving from fuel reduction costs from 11:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.
B.C. Business Council executive vice president and chief policy officer Jock Finlayson will be the luncheon speaker from noon to 1:30 p.m. and will be followed by a panel on the lumber market in the Asia Pacific featuring sales and marketing executives from Canfor, West Fraser and Tolko.
University of Northern British Columbia president George Iwama will speak about post secondary education, 3 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. and will be followed by a panel of local media who've been asked to give their thoughts on northern B.C.'s prospects over the next 10 years.
The day is capped by the forum's business and technology awards banquet, 6 p.m. start.
Tomorrow, Prince Rupert Port Authority chief executive officer Don Krusel and Port Metro Vancouver chief executive officer Robin Silvester will speak about the importance of port capacity in economic development, 9:10 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Industrial Training Authority chief executive officer Kevin Evans will speak about trades training and its role in meeting the demand for skilled labour in industrial development, 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
A panel session on mining and the Asia Pacific market, featuring representatives from Thompson Creek Metals, Imperial Metals and Teck Resources, will be held from 10:45 a.m. to noon.
Premier Christy Clark will give a lunchtime speech on the provincial government's jobs creation strategy, noon to 1:45 p.m.
She'll be followed by a panel on liquified natural gas and the Asia Pacific market, hosted by representatives from Apache, Encana and Progress Energy Resources, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. And Westport Innovations vice president Jonathan Burke will speak about natural gas technology, 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Admission to the trade show and panels is free while tickets must be purchased for the noontime speeches by Finlayson and Clark and for the awards banquet. For more information, go to www.bcnaturalresourceforum.com.
-- Nielsen
