Our climate is changing; that is an irrefutable fact. And we need to deal with the implications of that fact. Our communities are surrounded by forests. We have always lived with the danger of wildfires, but as the effects of climate change become more pronounced, and these fires become more intense and more frequent, risks…
Vernon residents can learn how to protect themselves from wildfire. From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Vernon homeowners can join local and provincial fire officials at Deer Lake Park (9192 Tronson Rd.) to learn about the FireSmart program. “Residents play a key role in wildfire protection because when it comes to wildfires,…
The U.S. and Canada have “significant differences” amid talks toward a new softwood-lumber trade pact, according to the countries’ top trade officials. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Canadian International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland released a joint statement Friday stressing that negotiations continue on what they described as an important part of both economies. The…
Canadian jobs and sawmills across the country are increasingly at risk because of fading prospects they will avoid a new round of U.S. duties on imported softwood lumber, according to an industry analyst. RBC Capital Markets analyst Paul Quinn says he expects the United States will impose duties of at least 25 per 1cent in…
Talks between the United States and Canada on a long-running dispute over softwood lumber exports have bogged down amid “significant differences,” the two nations said on Friday, potentially paving the way for a fresh round of lawsuits. U.S. producers complain that Canadian lumber is subsidized, and have in the past launched trade challenges that resulted…
A union representing hundreds of workers at Port Hawkesbury Paper says that for the first time there will be a temporarily layoff at the paper mill. It will last one week. “Any time you lay people off it sends a whole bunch of shivers through everybody and, in a small community, people say ‘Oh God, the mill is…
The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) was delighted that all four Northern Ontario will stay in cabinet at Queen’s Park. FONOM president and Kapuskasing mayor Alan Spacek is pleased Michael Gravelle is remaining as northern development and mines minister. “We are pleased to have the continuity of leadership within this portfolio. Minister Gravelle is…
The development manager for a Nova Scotia paper mill says more than half of the mill’s 330 employees will be affected by layoffs next week.Marc Dube of Port Hawkesbury Paper said today that poor market conditions for printing and writing-grade paper has led to the week-long shutdown.He says some of the unionized and non-unionized employees will take…
The provincial government is promoting the increased use of residual fibre (left at the roadside following logging) by a number of changes in legislation and policy as described in its recent “Fibre Action Plan.” Part of this plan was a recent study by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations staff which showed…
The Premier was talking tough on softwood lumber at yesterday afternoon’s Chamber of Commerce meeting in Quesnel. Christy Clark specifically mentioned the lack of a new export deal with the US. BC is responsible for 50% of Canada’s softwood lumber exports to the States. Clark says the matter is urgent and she assured the crowd that…