The Ontario Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry claims the forestry sector is “healthier” than it was in recent years. Bill Mauro said the Liberal government will be committing $60 million to forest access roads as well as making the forestry sector eligible for the Jobs and Prosperity Fund, which sits at $2.7 billion. This…
Canada’s lumber producers say they expect the softwood lumber agreement with the United States will be allowed to expire in October. As the clock ticks away to the deadline, West Fraser Timber noted in its first-quarter earnings report that the likelihood of an extension or replacement agreement becomes increasingly remote. Industry analysts agree, with one…
Canada raised its softwood lumber exports by 5% last year to roughly 40.2m m³. The decisive factor for the increase was higher exports to the USA, Canada’s main market. These were 11% higher than the 2013 level at around 28.5m m³. The provisional figures from Statistics Canada of Ottawa show that in contrast the exports…
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (TSX:WFT), citing the impact of a lower Canadian dollar, has reported an increase in fourth quarter revenue and earnings. Vancouver-based West Fraser said net income in the quarter rose to $49 million or 58 cents per share from $43 million or 51 cents in the comparable 2014 period. Revenue improved…
The Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) welcomes Premier Wynne’s 2015 Provincial Budget and its support of Ontario’s renewable natural resource – forestry, the province’s second largest industrial sector. As a cornerstone of Ontario’s green economy, the forest products sector is doing its part to help the province achieve its fiscal and environmental objectives through sustainable…
A preliminary decision on alleged violations of international trade law by a Canadian papermaker that directly competes with mills in Madison and Minnesota will be delayed until July at the request of the U.S. paper companies that filed the complaint. The U.S. Department of Commerce has been investigating the subsidies paid to Port Hawkesbury Paper,…
Linwood Custom Homes is the big dwarf of the North American home-building market, its chief executive likes to say. But even the giants got trampled by the U.S. housing crash seven years ago. “It was ugly,” said Bill Mascott, head of the Delta, B.C.-based manufacturer of home designs and building kits. “I think it is…
The strongly worded document essentially puts non-governmental organizations such as Green Peace and the Rain Forest Action Network on notice that their campaigns to undermine the provincial forest industries in Ontario and Quebec will no longer be tolerated. The resolution contends that all forest products companies in Ontario are governed by the Crown Forest Sustainability…
The Forestry Safety Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (FSANL) will host their 4th Annual Health and Safety Symposium in Gander on April 23, 2015. Building on the success of its previous three Symposiums, which provided an exceptional opportunity for industry leaders to network, learn and demonstrate their commitment to health and safety in the forestry…
Another milestone has been reached at the new Resolute Forest Products sawmill at Sapawe, as the first board was dressed, trimmed and graded in the planing mill on April 4. “The new planer is going to do a wonderful job dressing our lumber,” said Richard Blanchette, planer superintendent. “We are still working the bugs out,…