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…
The Ontario Wood Award is presented to individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the support and promotion of local wood. The 2017 Award was presented at Forests Ontario’s Annual Conference, held at the Nottawasaga Inn in Alliston, Ontario. This year’s recipient was Jeff Muzzi, Chief Forester at Ensyn Technologies, in recognition of…
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…
Through its Bioenergy Producer Program, the government of Alberta has awarded $60 million to 31 different companies that have built or are in the process of constructing in-province bioenergy projects that lead to greenhouse gas reductions when compared to a conventional alternative. Out of a total of 36 projects, two are ethanol, two are biodiesel,…
A load retention tariff at the local paper mill continues to do what it was intended. On January 23, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB) issued a decision regarding the Nova Scotia Power Inc. and Port Hawkesbury Paper (PHP) load retention tariff. Dave Rodenheiser, spokesperson with NSPI, said the decision found the current…
The Moose Cree First Nation is looking seriously at getting into manufacturing as its next big development project. The First Nation’s economic development department is about to begin work on a feasibility study for either constructing or purchasing an existing facility to make wood pellets. Wood pellets are typically used by wood-burning furnaces – which…
Tree Canada will start planting new trees this spring in Fort McMurray, nearly a year after wildfire ravaged the area. The project is dubbed Operation ReLeaf – Fort McMurray, and it has the potential to continue into 2018. More than $1.3 million has been collected by Tree Canada from individuals, as well as corporate sponsors, and donations…
A renegotiation of Nafta could be used to settle a lumber dispute that’s been simmering between Canada and the U.S. for decades and threatens to make housing unaffordable for thousands of Americans, according to the world’s largest newsprint maker. The Canadian government will probably want lumber included in a new North American Free Trade Agreement,…
B.C. Forest Minister Steve Thomson flew to Ottawa on Sunday to start working toward a new trade agreement on softwood lumber with the U.S. as officials south of the border prepare for trade litigation that could result in punitive duties on one of B.C. major industries. Thomson said he will be working with Chrystia Freeland, federal minister of foreign…
The year 2016 proved to be a tumultuous time in the forest industry in Merritt. The Tolko Industries mill was shut down in December, a decision which left more than 200 people scrambling to find employment in a matter of months. The mill’s closure — coupled with a major fire at the Diacarbon wood pellet plant…