A Northwest NDP MLA is accusing the B.C. government of failing to trim a backlog of outstanding natural resource permits for small businesses.

Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson says the opposition is hearing from small business leaders that the province hasn't put the resources in place in the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources to ensure applications are processed in a timely fashion.

The NDP says the Fort Nelson chamber of commerce has reported some businesses waiting up to a year for their applications to clear.

Last fall, the government announced it would hire about 100 temporary employees to clear a backlog of applications that the opposition tallied at more than 7,000.  But Donaldson says that clearly hasn't solved the problem.

He says the delays are affecting tourism businesses and hunting and fishing guides.