The top U.S. and Canadian trade negotiators said on Wednesday they would continue talks toward a new trade agreement on softwood lumber, despite the expiration of a “standstill” period prohibiting legal challenges over the long-standing dispute. U.S. producers complain that Canadian lumber is subsidized, and they have in the past launched trade challenges that resulted…
With the U.S. Lumber Coalition free to file a new trade case against Canadian lumber producers as early as October 13, share prices across the sector are expected to come under pressure. West Fraser Timber Co., Canfor Corp., Interfor Corp, Resolute Forest Products Inc., Western Forest Products Inc. and Conifex Timber Inc. are all vulnerable,…
Another event at Kelowna’s Tolko mill Tuesday night has some neighbours in the area up in arms. Dr. Charles Lund, who lives in the area, said soot from the mill blanketed the neighbourhood. It was so bad, he said they had to water down their patio furniture. Cars in the area were also covered with…
B.C. is bracing for pain as the U.S. lumber industry stands poised to launch a punitive softwood lumber trade battle as early as Thursday. That’s when a one-year “standstill” agreement tacked onto the 2006 Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Agreement expires, opening the door to years of costly litigation and likely mill closures and job losses. “With…
In June of 2016, Premier Rachel Notley’s government released a bold conservation plan for one of Alberta’s most challenging environmental problems – woodland caribou. Woodland caribou are a flagship species for the boreal forest, protected under the federal and provincial Species-at-Risk Act. Nearly all of Alberta’s remaining 15 caribou populations are declining after decades of…
The provincial government has partnered with the B.C. Forest Safety Council and the Council of Forest Industries on two projects that will support the recruitment, identification and skills assessment of qualified workers. Victoria has invested more than $530,000, through the Sector Labour Market Partnership Program (LMP), to BCFSC to lead the Forest Sector Workforce Initiative …
Over the years, Forestry has had to fight back against unreasonable negativity. But for all the naysayers and environmental pessimists, a little research will reveal that modern forestry is about much more than most people realize. At the University of British Columbia (UBC), one of the world’s foremost public universities, it is possible to study…
Each year, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) recognizes one of its state/provincial SFI Implementation Committees for exemplary performance in promoting responsible forestry and for member participation, community engagement and partnerships. The proud winner of the 2016 SFI Implementation Committee (SIC) Achievement Award is the Central Canada SFI Implementation Committee (CCSIC), led by our own Mike…
Premier Christy Clark appeared to be positively beaming in Bella Bella last week as she watched Prince William unveil a plaque endorsing the Great Bear Rainforest as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. She even came up with a million-dollar trust fund in support of this extraordinary old-growth coastal rainforest. Buoyed by this experience, and…
Three groups that were once labelled enemies of the province by a former British Columbia premier have been given a prestigious international award for their work in the Great Bear Rainforest. The Rainforest Solutions project — a collective effort of Greenpeace, the Sierra Club and Stand.earth — have received the $100,000 Buckminster Fuller Design Award…