Recent activity at West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. has revealed that British Columbian billionaire Jim Pattison owns a significant minority stake in the company, prompting speculations of a merger with rival Canfor Corp., according to an analyst. Pattison owns 10 per cent of West Fraser, North America’s No. 1 lumber producer, said Paul Quinn, a…

Following a lengthy, detailed investigation initiated in November 2016, the U.S. Department of Commerce last week determined that Canadian lumber exports to the U.S. market are subsidized and set an average tariff of 20 percent to offset these subsidies. For the U.S. forestry industry, the full and effective enforcement of the U.S. trade laws by…

Canfor Corp., one of the world’s largest forestry companies, sees potential acquisition opportunities in the U.S. south as smaller companies struggle in the wake of carnage left by new softwood lumber duties. “We’ve got an appetite for [mergers and acquisitions],” Canfor CEO Don Kayne said on a conference call Thursday to discuss the company’s slightly…

The province is tacking on an extra $10 million to the Forest Access Roads Funding Program. The money is a top-up to the $60 million announced by Queen’s Park in last spring’s budget for the program. A Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry news release said the money is earmarked for construction and maintaining forestry…

Anyone who read the most recent federal budget could be forgiven for thinking that the most important sector in Canada is clean tech. While there are opportunities to expand that sector, policy-makers would be wise to recognize that exports from natural resource industries like forestry are still the “lifeblood” of Canada’s economy, Jock Finlayson, chief…

Diaper-wearing baby boomers are coming to the rescue of the beleaguered paper industry. As the world population ages, sales are climbing for absorbent hygiene products that have gotten more comfortable and discreet. Demand is projected to grow 4 per cent in 2017, according to ERA Forest Products Research, boosting prospects for companies including International Paper…

During the open line show on CBC radio Feb. 27 most of the people phoning in were against the export of raw logs as was the guest,  Ben Parfitt, who has written extensively on the topic. For more information, I recommend Mr. Parfitt’s  June 2007 article Wood Waste and Log Exports’ on the BC coast….

Starting February 26th, the public can support Forests Ontario by making a donation at any of the more than 650 LCBO stores throughout Ontario. Donation boxes for Forests Ontario will be displayed at LCBO checkout counters until March 31st. Forests Ontario is the voice for our forests. Our mission is to ensure a greener future…

The Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry in Ontario is looking to her federal counterpart for help with the current uncertainty in the softwood lumber industry. Last week Kathryn McGarry wrote a letter to federal Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr asking for the creation of a temporary loan program to help forestry companies. It’s likely these softwood…

Interfor Corp. (TSX:IFP) posted record earnings in 2016 and expects 2017 to be another good year, thanks to strong demand for lumber in the U.S.In its fourth quarter financial statements, Interfor – B.C.’s third largest forestry company by market cap – said its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in 2016 was $200…