Apr 14, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. The British Columbia (B.C.) provincial government has issued lay off notices to about 200 staff in the forests ministry. In addition, the forestry ministry field office in Prince Rupert will be closed, as ForestTalk reported. District offices in Squamish, Revelstoke, Clearwater, and Vanderhoof will be downgraded to district sub-offices with a single manager that will refer significant compliance and enforcement decisions to the nearest district office. District offices in Alexis Creek and Castlegar have been downgraded to field offices. Forests minister Pat Bell said the changes and cuts are due to the reduction in the harvest level in Northern B.C. by over a third in the alst couple of years.