The Economic Development Action Plan (EDAP) is intended to provide the Morice LRMP Table with direction on how to manage the land and resource base when considering economic development opportunities. As part of the LRMP process an Economic Development Action Plan Working Group was formed to identify economic development opportunities such that the LRMP Table, through their decision-making deliberations, could create conditions suitable for the development and promotion of these opportunities. The steps followed in creating this EDAP were as follows:
Members of the Working Group felt that economic diversification as well as the maintenance and enhancement of the current way of life enjoyed by all residents in the Morice were essential factors when considering the range of opportunities to pursue. An assessment of each economic sector’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats assisted in the development of sector specific strategies for economic development in the Morice EDAP. The general economic development strategy, based on the SWOT profile, is to pursue opportunities that are a good fit with the core strengths of the region.
Morice Land and Resource Management Plan 1
Executive Summary 2
Introduction 10
Purpose 10
Plan Location 10
District of Houston 11
Village of Granisle 11
Unincorporated Communities 12
What is Economic Development? 13
First Nations Involvement in Economic Development 13
EDAP Process Description 14
Process Overview 14
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis 15
Opportunity Ranking Criteria 16
Opportunity Identification 19
Ranking of Sector Opportunities 19
Technical Analysis 20
Building Blocks 20
Socio-Economic Analysis 21
Forestry 22
Introduction 22
Sector Development Strategy 22
Identified Opportunities 23
Development of Cogeneration Wood Facility 24
Overview 24
Opportunity Analysis 24
Location Analysis 27
Market Analysis 28
Current Production Trends 29
Market Demand and Price Trend 29
Conclusion 30
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 30
Establishment of a Medium Density Fibreboard Operation 31
Overview 31
Opportunity Analysis 31
Market Analysis 31
Historical Market Trends 31
Current Trends 32
Market Demand and Price Trend 33
Future Market Trends 34
Location Analysis 34
Conclusion 35
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 36
Engineered Wood Products 37
Overview 37
Opportunity Analysis 37
Competitive Analysis 38
Supply Analysis 40
Location Analysis 41
Market Analysis 42
Production 43
Market Outlook 44
Conclusion 45
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 45
Minerals, Oil, Gas and Energy 46
Introduction 46
Sector Development Strategy 46
A Two-Zone System for Mineral Exploration and Mining in BC 47
Identified Opportunities 48
Development of Open Pit Mines 49
Overview 49
Opportunity Analysis 50
Location Analysis 50
Environmental Issues 51
Market Analysis 52
Current Production Trends 52
Market Demand and Price Trend 54
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 55
Development of Small to Medium Underground Mining Operations 56
Overview 56
Opportunity Analysis 57
Location Analysis 58
Market Analysis 58
Current Production Trends 58
Market Demand and Price Trend 60
Conclusion 61
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 61
Development of a Copper Smelter 62
Overview 62
Opportunity Analysis 63
Location Analysis 63
Market Analysis 64
Current Market Trends 64
Market Demand and Price Trend 65
Conclusion 66
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 66
Development of Oil and Gas 66
Overview 66
Opportunity Analysis 67
Location Analysis 69
Market Analysis 70
Current Production Trends 70
Market Demand and Price Trend 73
Conclusion 74
Recommendations to LRMP Table 74
Tourism and Recreation 74
Introduction 74
Sector Development Strategy 75
Identified Opportunities 75
Hiking Trails 77
Overview 77
Opportunity Analysis 77
Vehicle Camping Combined with Short Walks and Water Activities 78
Chain Lake Canoeing 78
Hiking – all day and overnights 78
Location Analysis 79
Vehicle Camping Combined with Short Walks and Water Activities 79
Chain Lake Canoeing 79
Hiking – all day and overnights 81
Market Analysis 81
Vehicle Camping Combined with Short Walks and Water Activities 81
Chain Lake Canoeing 81
Hiking – all day and overnights 82
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 82
House Boating 83
Overview 83
Opportunity Analysis 84
Location Analysis 85
Market Analysis 85
Recommendations to the LRMP table 86
Snowmobile Tours and Destination Snowmobiling 86
Overview 86
Opportunity Analysis 88
Location Analysis 89
Market Analysis 89
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 91
Commercial Recreation Site Development (includes Forest Service Recreation Sites) 91
Overview: 91
Methodology 92
Opportunity Analysis 92
Forestry Sites 92
Market Analysis 93
New Facilities 94
Conclusion 95
Recommendations to LRMP Table 96
First Nations Cultural Heritage Site Development 96
Overview 96
Opportunity Analysis 97
Location Analysis 97
Market Analysis 98
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 98
Guided Tours of Historic Mines and Prospecting Tours 98
Overview 98
Opportunity Analysis 100
Location Analysis 101
Market Analysis 103
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 104
Tour Package Marketer 104
Overview 104
Opportunity Analysis 105
Location Analysis 106
Market Analysis 106
Consumer Attitude Shifts 107
Recommendations for the LRMP 108
Non-Timber Forest Products 108
Introduction 108
Sector Development Strategy 109
Identified Opportunities 109
Development of a Wild Berry Business (Cultural and Traditional Use Non-Timber Forest Products) 110
Overview 110
Opportunity Analysis 110
Location Analysis 111
Production/Management Constraints 111
Shipping Analysis 112
Market Analysis 113
Market Segments 113
Demand 113
Prices 114
Competition 115
Market Opportunities 115
Sales Channels 116
Conclusion 116
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 116
Botanical Forest Products for the Nutraceutical and Medicinal Herb Market 118
Overview 118
Industry Position: 121
A provincial context: 122
Location Analysis 123
Market Analysis 128
Market Opportunities: Product Selection 129
Sales Channels 130
Production Facilities and Location 131
Employment 131
Conclusion 132
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 132
Development of Willow Furniture Businesses 133
Overview 133
Opportunity Analysis 133
Location Analysis 133
Supply of Raw Material 133
Shipping 134
Production Analysis 134
Market Analysis 135
Demand and Pricing 135
Sales Channels 136
Competition 136
Market Gaps 138
Market Opportunities 138
Marketing Channels 138
Conclusion 139
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 139
Agriculture 139
Introduction 139
Sector Development Strategy 140
Identified Opportunities 141
Malting and Feed Barley Production 142
Overview 142
Opportunity Analysis 142
Location Analysis 143
Market Analysis 143
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 143
Market Gardening 144
Overview 144
Opportunity Analysis 144
Location Analysis 144
Market Analysis 144
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 145
AGRICULTURE TOURS & GUEST / DUDE RANCHES 145
Overview 145
Opportunity Analysis 146
Location Analysis 148
Market Analysis 148
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 149
Land Development / Infrastructure 149
Introduction 149
Sector Development Strategy 150
Identified Opportunities 150
Recreational Lot Development 150
Overview 150
Opportunity Analysis 151
Location Analysis 151
Market Analysis 151
Conclusion 153
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 154
Commercial Fishery 154
Introduction 154
Sector Development Strategy 155
Identified Opportunities 155
Fish and Roe Processing Plant 156
Overview 156
Lake Babine Sockeye Run 157
Fish Processing - Viability 158
Markets – River Fish Sockeye and Roe 158
Opportunity Analysis 160
Location Analysis 161
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 161
INLAND AQUACULTURE 161
Overview 161
Opportunity Analysis 163
Location Analysis 164
Quality Water Requirement 164
Market Analysis 165
Recommendations to the LRMP Table 165
Summary Matrix of Opportunities 166
References 167
APPENDIX 1: Summary of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis 172
APPENDIX 2: Northwest Real Estate View 184