Re: “The future of plastic bags” (Editorial, May 22) We challenge your claim that “paper bags take more energy and precious resources to produce (than plastic shopping bags).” First, what resources are more “precious”? The non-renewable fossil fuels that most plastic bags are derived from? Or the renewable trees that paper bags are made from?…
Given Ottawa’s recent focus on trade opportunities in Southeast Asia, it’s natural that people start asking whether such trade is realistic. The countries of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, combined are the seventh-largest economy in the world with a population of more than 600 million. But logistical challenges abound when it comes to…
A 25,000-hectare wildfire that had been burning out of control for more than two weeks southwest of Prince George, B.C. is about 80 percent contained, the B.C. Wildfire Mangement Branch reported Sunday. Quiet winds, cool temperatures and wetter weather is helping bring the fire under control. An evacuation order for the area around Norman Lake has…
Alberta forest fires have prompted the shutdown of about 9 percent of Canada’s oil sands production. Cenovus Energy Inc. closed its 130,000-barrel Foster Creek operations and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. shut its 80,000-barrel-a-day Primrose project after a forest fire broke out on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range in northeastern Alberta, the companies said. The…
Five years after Columbia Forest Products shut down its Rutherglen veneer plant, efforts are underway to reopen the facility. “I’m very optimistic,” said Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Jay Aspin, who toured the plant Tuesday with company representatives, as well as Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli and members of the Mattawa-Bonfield Economic Development Corporation. Aspin said he’s hopeful the…
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in conjunction with Forests Ontario have announced the discovery of Ontario’s tallest tree. At Ontario’s Biodiversity Summit today, the groups marked International Day of Biodiversity with the discovery of Ontario’s tallest eastern white pine. It is a magnificient 47 metres, or 154 feet, high and located along the Ottawa…
The province of Quebec has a lot of trees and forests, and a nascent Cross-Laminated Timber industry. Now Quebec City’s Pointe-aux-Lièvres eco-district is getting a 13 storey tower constructed of mostly CLT, 12 storeys of apartments on top of a concrete podium. Designed by Yvan Blouin, the building is a condominium being marketed as the…
A recent article (May issue of the Logging and Sawmilling Journal) on highlights of a panel discussion organized by the Council of Forest Industries (COFI) in Prince George proposes a co-operative approach between government, industry and consultants on how to best use the fibre remaining at roadside after logging. COFI started by canvassing 19 interior…
Catalyst Paper (TSX:CYT) today announced an investment of nearly $16 million in the Rumford pulp and paper mill in Maine, U.S. This is a planned second quarter investment that includes the company’s single largest maintenance expenditure in 2015. Approximately $11.4 million will be invested in various maintenance projects including upgrading the Rumford mill’s Recovery Boiler…
Environmental groups have accused TimberWest of speeding up logging in the Great Bear Rainforest before tougher regulations take effect – an allegation the company denies. The province notes TimberWest is meeting legal requirements. Sierra Club B.C., Greenpeace and ForestEthics Solutions alleged Thursday that TimberWest has significantly increased its logging of the Great Bear Rainforest in…