The Supreme Court of BC gave the green light on Jan. 18 to major changes to the way Catalyst Paper does business. Catalyst Paper, which owns the Crofton pulp mill, is in the process of a recapitalization plan that would see the forest company switch from a publicly traded entity to a private enterprise. Company…
Aviation enthusiasts will be interested in catching a glimpse of the Kaman K-MAX 1200 aircraft at work heli-logging in and around the city for the next few weeks. “It is a very specialized aircraft,” said Clint Sarver, who owns and operates Sarvair Aviation with his wife, Karen Sarver. “I believe there are only three in…
Nova Scotia Trade Minister Michel Samson says he believes the province will be exempt from any new duties that could be placed on Canadian softwood lumber by the U.S. government. American sawmill operators are lobbying for a surcharge on Canadian lumber entering the U.S. because they say sawmills north of the border have access to cheap Crown timber…
Independent timber harvesting contractors—the economic backbone of BC’s rural communities—are struggling in a business climate that doesn’t support locally owned forestry businesses. The TLA’s 74th Annual Convention & Trade Show will take place January 18 – 20, 2017 at the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver. Over this three-day event, we’ll find out what needs to…
An assessment of the total financial impact of last spring’s Fort McMurray wildfire is pegging the direct and indirect costs of the blaze at almost $10 billion. The $9.9-billion figure includes the expense of replacing buildings and infrastructure as well as lost income, profits and royalties in the oilsands and forestry industries, said MacEwan University…
The First Nation Forestry Council (FNFC) and four B.C. pulp and paper companies are pleased to announce they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote and support the growing role and influence of First Nations in the B.C. forest sector. The four companies include: Catalyst Paper, Nanaimo Forest Products (Harmac), Paper Excellence Canada…
“Cataclysmic” damage to fish habitat on Haida Gwaii has lead to $1.1 million in fines to a now-dissolved company controlled by Campbell River-based Pallan Group Ltd. The fines to Howe Sound Forest Products Ltd. are part of a sentencing by Judge Michael Brecknell in Masset provincial court on Jan. 9 that include fines to two…
The Sudbury-born head of North America’s largest private sector union says many of his members voted for Donald Trump. International Steelworkers president Leo Gerard supported the Democrats in the recent U.S. election, but says many Steelworkers on both sides of the border liked Trump’s focus on the economy and restoring industrial jobs. “I say this…
The federal government has promised action that will deal with Grassy Narrows mercury contamination “once and for all.” Working closely with the province and First Nations leaders, federal officials will address mercury contamination that has plagued the northern community for decades, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the Star late Monday. The vow…
No one will argue Donald Trump is a man of many words. Whether he will follow through on this promises, including settling North American trade disputes, is what has people like TRU Political Science Professor Terry Kading on pins and needles. His concern, B.C’s lumber industry. “I think we’re in a difficult position moving forward,…