VICTORIA, B.C. — The B.C. Liberals are in the midst of penning some forest policy reforms aimed at improving the flow of timber, among other things.

Although little has been made public about the changes on the way, insiders say one of the most significant objectives is to allow wood fibre to flow to high-end uses like guitar manufacturing and I-beams rather than just two-by-fours.

“For too long we’ve constrained the industry by regulation,” Prince George North MLA, Pat Bell, tells local media. “One of our objectives is to give people an opportunity to create that highest and best use of the end of material. And we need to get out of people’s way.”

There may also be a move towards a market-based timber pricing system and restrictions on what mills must receive a company’s wood (based on their location) will likely be scrapped.

The government is also changing the rights to log timber, which could take some timber harvesting rights out of the hands of the major forestry companies that now control them.