Chilliwack MLA John Martin was just named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.
Martin found out last week. The news that he'd be working alongside Forestry Minister Steve Thomson was officially announced by Premier Christy Clark at a conference Tuesday in Prince George.
"I'm thrilled," said Martin. "It's one of the biggest ministries in the province, and one with the widest breadth, so there will be no shortage of tasks."
The FLNRO ministry covers everything from the B.C. forestry sector, as well as hunting, fishing, ATV — even forest fires.
As parliamentary secretary, Martin will work closely with Thomson to manage Crown land, protect B.C.'s natural heritage and work with the province's forestry sector.
"John Martin has been a tireless advocate for a growing, diverse economy in the Fraser Valley," said Premier Christy Clark in the news release.
Clark was in Prince George as keynote speaker at this week's BC Natural Resources Forum.
"The communities that depend on a healthy forestry sector couldn't ask for a more dogged, persistent champion to complement the work Steve Thomson has been doing for one of B.C.'s most vital industries," Clark said.
Martin told The Progress that Minister Thomson is one of the "hardest working and passionate" members of the B.C. cabinet.
"We're going to sit down shortly to go over the assignment," he said.
The local MLA has a strong interest in helping with that portfolio.
"At the end of the day, B.C. is still very much a resource-based economy. This is very much about the management of those resources."