A wildfire that has been raging for two weeks south of Prince George, B.C., has now been fully contained, but a secondary danger remains. Officials say the fire that scorched 250 square kilometres has burned deep into the forest floor, weakening the root systems of trees and endangering anyone who travels in the area. Fire…
Two Sides North America has revealed that The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and PwC Canada have released an updated 32-page Buyers’ Guide to Canada’s Sustainable Forest Products so that customers can be well informed and confident that their purchasing decisions are environmentally and socially responsible. The guide provides practical advice to help ensure…
Consumer demand for eco-conscious products and services is on the rise, and more and more large companies are making high-profile commitments to end deforestation in their supply chains as a result. Given the size and scope of these corporations, it will take not only the corporate will to make the necessary changes, but also the…
Re: “The future of plastic bags” (Editorial, May 22) We challenge your claim that “paper bags take more energy and precious resources to produce (than plastic shopping bags).” First, what resources are more “precious”? The non-renewable fossil fuels that most plastic bags are derived from? Or the renewable trees that paper bags are made from?…
Given Ottawa’s recent focus on trade opportunities in Southeast Asia, it’s natural that people start asking whether such trade is realistic. The countries of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, combined are the seventh-largest economy in the world with a population of more than 600 million. But logistical challenges abound when it comes to…
A 25,000-hectare wildfire that had been burning out of control for more than two weeks southwest of Prince George, B.C. is about 80 percent contained, the B.C. Wildfire Mangement Branch reported Sunday. Quiet winds, cool temperatures and wetter weather is helping bring the fire under control. An evacuation order for the area around Norman Lake has…
Alberta forest fires have prompted the shutdown of about 9 percent of Canada’s oil sands production. Cenovus Energy Inc. closed its 130,000-barrel Foster Creek operations and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. shut its 80,000-barrel-a-day Primrose project after a forest fire broke out on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range in northeastern Alberta, the companies said. The…
Five years after Columbia Forest Products shut down its Rutherglen veneer plant, efforts are underway to reopen the facility. “I’m very optimistic,” said Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Jay Aspin, who toured the plant Tuesday with company representatives, as well as Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli and members of the Mattawa-Bonfield Economic Development Corporation. Aspin said he’s hopeful the…
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in conjunction with Forests Ontario have announced the discovery of Ontario’s tallest tree. At Ontario’s Biodiversity Summit today, the groups marked International Day of Biodiversity with the discovery of Ontario’s tallest eastern white pine. It is a magnificient 47 metres, or 154 feet, high and located along the Ottawa…
The province of Quebec has a lot of trees and forests, and a nascent Cross-Laminated Timber industry. Now Quebec City’s Pointe-aux-Lièvres eco-district is getting a 13 storey tower constructed of mostly CLT, 12 storeys of apartments on top of a concrete podium. Designed by Yvan Blouin, the building is a condominium being marketed as the…