The Hutchinson's Call for a New Lease

The Hutchinsons are asking the province to:

• Replace their current timber lease with a lease suited to maple farming.

• provide access to the additional 2,500 acres of Crown land they understood would be available for expansion.

• Provide the long-term security needed to invest in and grow their operation.

This would allow them to expand from approximately 25,000 to 100,000 taps.

The Hutchinsons argue that Crown forests can create economic value through more than traditional timber harvesting. 

They point to maple production, rural employment, tourism, recreation, and conservation as potential benefits of maintaining forests as working landscapes. 

They also point to New Brunswick, where government support for maple production on Crown land has accompanied significant industry growth.