A harvester in central New Brunswick says logging with horses is serving a niche market. “I kind of saw there was a niche market for wood that you couldn’t really cut with a harvester, and there was people who really didn’t want harvester damage,” Craig Sabean says in a CBC News story. Sabean is the…

MONTREAL – The Forest Stewardship Council Canada, an independent certifier of forest management practices, is pleased the federal government has issued a draft action plan to support Canada’s boreal caribou population, but believes the plan must do more to encourage better forest management practices as a vital element to protecting caribou and other species at…

TORONTO — Unifor’s regional councils have added another $120,000 to BC wildfire relief donations, bringing the union’s total Red Cross donation to more than $220,000. “I want to thank our regional bodies for stepping up to extend Unifor’s solidarity,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor national president. “Unifor members in every province are concerned about the welfare…

TORONTO – Norbord has resumed production at the company’s OSB mill in 100 Mile House, B.C., the evacuation order for 100 Mile House and nearby communities was lifted. On July 10th, Norbord reported that the mill had temporarily suspended production in order to comply with evacuation orders due to wildfires burning in the region. All…

Four log cabin homes being built by Pioneer Log Homes of B.C. were destroyed by wildfire on the company’s property near Williams Lake, B.C. CTV News reports that fire swept through one of three yards owned by Pioneer and destroyed four homes in the process of being constructed, as well as hundreds of tools. Pioneer’s…

Norbord and West Fraser have suspended operations at several B.C. sites due to wildfire activity and evacuation orders. Norbord reported on July 10 that it was suspending production at its OSB facility in 100 Mile House in order to comply with evacuation orders. At the time of evacuation, the mill was secure and all employees…

To ensure a co-ordinated response to the current wildfire situation in British Columbia and to ensure public safety, Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Emergency Management BC, announced on July 7 a provincial state of emergency. The state of emergency gives agencies such as Emergency Management BC, the Fire Commissioner,…

TORONTO – With forest fire season well underway in Ontario, the province has increased the maximum fines for individuals and corporations for starting forest fires. If found responsible, individuals can now be fined up to $25,000 for starting a forest fire, with fines for corporations going up to $500,000. The Ministry of Natural Resources and…

Councillors in six northwestern Alberta municipalities are worried a “cookie-cutter” solution to dwindling caribou populations would cause a serious drag on the local forestry industry, reports The Edmonton Journal. Preliminary plans from the provincial government set aside 1.8 million hectares for permanent protection in Alberta’s northwest corner. After learning of the plan in 2016, councillors…

A rural municipality in southwest Nova Scotia is pushing back against the provincial government and a mill consortium over concerns it has with clear cutting, and is urging for a moratorium on the practice in its region, according to CBC News. The County of Annapolis wants Crown land that falls within its boundaries excluded from…