FREDERICTON -- An agreement between J.D. Irving Ltd. and the New Brunswick government for the company's forest operations on Crown land has been released by the province.
Natural Resources Minister Paul Robichaud says he will also release the agreements the province signed with other forestry companies when they are finalized in the coming weeks.
The Irving contract is for 25 years but could be extended by five years if regular reviews of the company's performance are satisfactory.
Green party Leader David Coon says the deal gives Irving 25 per cent more softwood allocation from Crown lands and is designed to ensure the sustainability of the company, not the forest.
The company couldn't be reached for comment.
Last month, the New Brunswick government released a new 10-year forestry strategy allowing the harvest of an additional 660,000 cubic hectares of softwood a year -- a hike of 20 per cent from existing levels.
