The provincial government today released its agenda to enhance the competitiveness of B.C.’s forest sector so that it continues to make investments and provide family-supporting jobs in communities throughout the province. The agenda called “Strong Past, Bright Future” contains 49 strategic actions to address three key inter-related goals: healthy, resilient forests; diverse, globally competitive industry;…
Effective August 29, 2016, the allowable annual cut for Western Forest Products’ Tree Farm Licence 39 is 1,416,300 cubic metres chief forester Diane Nicholls announced today. “After a careful review of the facts, I am satisfied that the new allowable annual cut for Tree Farm Licence 39 is sustainable, respects First Nations’ interests and takes…
Sault Ste. Marie company BioForest Technologies, the maker of TreeAzin, a natural pesticide that destroys the emerald ash borer (EAB) beetle, has been sold to a larger company. Last April, BioForest was acquired by Lallemand, a Montreal-based business that develops, produces and markets yeast, bacteria and specialty ingredients. The family-owned venture has products across sectors,…
Climate change, deforestation, global warming. These are all hotly debated areas of sustainability that have become commonly used buzzwords in the public discourse. However, news coverage and analysis primarily tend to focus on the technical aspects of these key issues, rather than detailing any human implications. For example, it is reported that deforestation is responsible…
The University of New Brunswick’s (UNB) Technology Management & Entrepreneurship (TME) program has become an essential component of New Brunswick’s incredible entrepreneurial ecosystem. CanCross Infrastructure, a Fredericton startup fresh from the TME’s Summer Institute accelerator, saw its beginnings in a TME-hosted classroom. Company co-founders Scott Allen, Thomas Bird, and Joshua White, say their business wouldn’t exist…
The wild western red cedar forests of Calvert and Hecate Islands, off the British Columbia central coast, are a vision of untouched wilderness. Located about two hours by boat from the nearest village, these rugged islands seem to offer glimpses of life without human interference. But even here, subtle cues belie the influence of the…
The annals of U.S. trade relations with Canada, our largest trading partner, include a recurring dispute over softwood lumber: the kind of pine boards used mainly in construction and home improvement, as well as for paper. And a new dispute is looming at a very awkward time for the United States. Canada has vast forested…
A group of northern Alberta municipalities wants more discussion of a provincial plan to protect an extra 1.8 million hectares of wilderness in hopes of saving the woodland caribou. Caribou Communities of Alberta says a report by mediator Eric Denhoff that the government accepted in June could cost jobs and hurt the petroleum and forestry…
Tree planting is a job so demanding that when the BBC sent three young Brits to B.C. to give it a try, two didn’t even make it through the first week. “It really is the hardest job in the world,” said Dirk Brinkman, whose company, the Brinkman Group, hosted the three woefully unprepared twentysomethings at…
For the third time in less than a month, northern towns are facing tough times after a major employer announced it will close its doors. On Aug. 22, 2016, Tolko Industries announced that as of Dec. 3, 332 employees in The Pas will be without jobs. The privately owned B.C.-based forestry products company is set to close…