Canadian Forest Products Ltd. has failed to convince a B.C. Supreme Court Justice it deserves a break on stumpage for timber it had been harvesting in the vicinity of Williston Lake. The concept of “cycle time” played a significant role in the decision, issued Nov. 25 by Justice Bruce Butler. In essence, the longer it…
As a retired Nova Scotia forester, I’ve long enjoyed Mike Parker’s colourful books, especially his Woodchips & Beans, which I once reviewed. So I was surprised to find his recent article about clearcutting (May the forest be with you, Oct. 29) so thin on history and thick on rhetoric. I’m no fan of big clear-cuts…
The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality is going to be partnering with FP Innovations to study the feasibility of harvesting aspen trees in the area as a more lucrative resource. The municipality announced in a press release that the study is being financed both by them and by the Northern Development Initiative Trust. Aspen trees are…
Irving Pulp and Paper Limited has been charged with 15 counts of illegal dumping into the St. John River. The alleged federal Fisheries Act violations date from June 2014 through August 2016 and are said to have taken place at the company’s mill at Reversing Falls in west Saint John. In each case it is…
Donald Trump has called the North American Free Trade Agreement the “worst trade deal ever negotiated.” If he were speaking on behalf of Canadian exporters or American consumers of softwood lumber, his point would have some validity. For more than 20 years, NAFTA has failed to deliver free trade in lumber. Instead, a system of…
One of the most enduring trade battles between Canada and the United States is once again heating up. The Softwood Lumber Agreement has expired, and with a protectionist president about to step into the White House, lobby groups south of the border are urging the U.S. government to take action. The fundamental difference between the…
The prospect of a reignited trade dispute with the United States over Canadian softwood lumber exports has British Columbia looking for new customers in China and India. Mike de Jong, B.C.’s Minister of Finance, said Tuesday that the United States remains B.C.’s largest market for softwood lumber exports at a value of $3.3 billion last…
BC’s Forestry Asia Trade Mission has shifted to China after spending a few days in Japan. The mission, led by Forests Minister Steve Thomson, is a continuation of strengthening and formalizing ties with multiple Asian markets, while pitching the exportation of softwood lumber. “China is a $1.2 Billion dollar market for us,” said Thomson via…
Cantimber Biotech says minimal complaints were submitted during the mill’s eight days of operation in early November.Cantimber underwent stack testing at the facility, near the corner of Harbour Road and Bruce Street, to check for potential chemicals in the volatile organic compounds (VOC) and to monitor emissions inside the building during full operation. A warm…
Want to help fight the spread of the mountain pine beetle, but aren’t sure where to start? Well, there’s an app for that. At the end of October, fRI Research launched a free smartphone application as a quick and easy way for people to report the presence of mountain pine beetle throughout the region. Once…