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B.C.’s mills and forest-dependent industries remain at risk by a protracted softwood lumber dispute between Canada and the United States, as well as a mid-term timber supply shortage. On top of that, Horgan’s NDP administration is wrestling with its commitments to better obtain Aboriginal consent on logging in traditional territories, and its desire to reinstate an updated form of its 1990s-era rules to link the location a tree is logged to the mill and jobs that could come from processing it.

“With John (Allan), they must be anticipating it’s going to become a more challenging environment,” said Nelson.

Sheldan’s departure as deputy minister is effective immediately. Such a quick change, with no transition time for a successor, is often the sign of termination, although Sheldan also spoke of retirement in his own internal message to colleagues.

As recently as last week, Sheldan was actively representing government when he spoke on behalf of the province at the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers in Halifax on the issue of Indigenous partnerships in forestry. His public service career spans 30 years in B.C., Alberta and Ottawa.

“Making changes at the deputy minister level are always difficult calls to make,” Wright wrote in an internal government email obtained by Postmedia News.

“Sometimes, as circumstances and priorities change, a change in direction is required. Sometimes that means changes at the executive level. In that context, by way of mutual agreement and as part of Tim’s overall career management plan, it is with very mixed emotions that I let you know that Tim Sheldan is leaving the B.C. Public Service.”