President Donald Trump’s trade agenda may be causing some concern in B.C., considering the province relies on the American market to consume more than 50 per cent of its exports. But the new administration also brings a big opportunity that the province must not overlook: a fresh shot at resolving the simmering softwood lumber dispute. In…
The province will take steps to reduce hydro rates, Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault pledged Wednesday in North Bay. “We are looking at other options and what we can do help, especially Hydro One customers who are designated R1 or R2 customers and Northerners who have electric heat in their homes that is costing them a…
A $300-million lawsuit filed by a multinational forest giant against Greenpeace under American racketeering laws enacted to deal with organized crime is simply an intimidation tactic that would set a dangerous precedent if successful, the environmental group argues in new court filings. In calling on a court in Georgia to toss out the suit, Greenpeace…
Free speech is one thing. It’s another to lie about a company just because you don’t like it. And environmental organizations like Greenpeace go even further — they try to raise money through pitches based on lies. Green groups say they have been fundraising like crazy since the election. It’s going to take commitment to defeat…
An $185-million biofuel facility in Botwood is coming closer to getting a green light. NewGreen Technology Inc, the company behind the project, will soon be offered a tentative deal by Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial government for the allocation of wood fibres on crown lands, CBC News has learned. Fisheries, Forestry and Agrifoods Minister Steve Crocker would not confirm…
What happens to wood waste created by construction, demolition, tossed-out furniture and yard scraps that end up at the Squamish landfill? The Squamish Chief asked the District of Squamish about the process of disposing our wood waste. Clean wood, such as untreated lumber and pallets, dirty wood, such as stained wood or partible board, and…
Elk herds that were reintroduced to northwestern Ontario nearly 20 years ago have started to spread out and claim new territory, according to a retired wildlife biologist who continues to study the animals. Bruce Ranta was part of the team that brought elk back to the northwest in the Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls area, after they…
The power generating station in Cochrane could be started up again this spring, under a new district energy model, thanks to ongoing talks that are yielding progress between stakeholders and the province. The 42-megawatt cogeneration facility, currently majority owned by Northland Power, shut down in May of 2015 when a new contract could not be…
The City of Merritt is facing an estimated four to six per cent drop in overall tax revenue in 2018 due to the closure of the Tolko sawmill. Those numbers are based on two scenarios, with the city facing up to a six per cent drop if Tolko decides to demolish the offices they have…
Premier Christy Clark has promised logging contractors on B.C.’s coast some help with their most intractable problem, how to get consistent work at high enough rates from major forest companies to keep their firms viable. Contractors couch the discussion as “contractor sustainability,” and Clark, in a luncheon speech Thursday, said Forest Minister Steve Thomson has already…