A two-week extension has been given to Ross Muirhead and Hans Penner of Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF) to address a structure recently targeted by a trespass notice, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations confirmed.
"The decision to extend was made to give time for consideration to the dispute letters received by the FLNRO regional executive director," said Ministry spokesperson Brennan Clarke in an interview with Coast Reporter, March 12.
"The director may rescind, vary or uphold the section 59Land ActTrespass Notice."
A decision is still forthcoming on Penner and Muir-head's application to convert the cabin into a shelter for hikers using the area's trail network, Clarke said.
Another trespass notice was recently given to Penny Lalo Singh, who responded by saying she would oppose the order, one that warns of a maximum penalty of $20,000 and two months jail time.
Singh established a Mount Elphinstone camp site several years ago to serve as "a personal retreat and in opposition to industrial logging."
The Ministry's trespass order declared the camp site to be in contravention of the Land Act due to illegal structures, materials used for "residential purposes" and refuse left by the occupiers.
It called on Singh to "immediately cease the unauthorized occupation and use of the Crown land."
But Singh disputed the notice, saying the Crown had no jurisdiction to order her to vacate land belonging to the First Nations community.
"Neither do they have any authority to touch any of my belongings, nor the camping equipment others have given me," Singh wrote to Coast Reporter.
The Ministry said it would carry out the order with or without her compliance, at Singh's expense if need be.
"The garbage-filled bus and wooden platform are still on site. Should Ms. Singh fail to comply with this notice, these illegal structures will be removed and she may be held responsible for the associated clean-up costs," said Clarke. "The Ministry is finalizing arrangements to have a contractor come in and clean up the site. Now that the March 7 deadline has passed, this could happen at any time," he added.
Singh could not be reached for comment.
