A record fire year in the Northwest Territories in 2014 may not be an isolated occurrence, according to a professor at the University of Alberta in Edmonton who is an expert on forest fires. Historically, bad fire years are caused by conditions that may last for several years, Mike Flannigan said. “They often come in clumps,” he said. “So if…
Forests Ontario has launched a new video advocating sustainable logging in Algonquin Provincial Park. The three-and-a-half-minute video called Connecting to Our Forests features students visiting a logging operation in the park to learn about the forestry sector and the jobs and products created by the industry. It also provides comments from industry professionals, particularly those…
Canada’s new rail safety legislation would make it possible for governments to recover costs from railways for any fire they cause, not just accidents that involve crude oil, said Transport Canada, a change that could force railways to pay millions in costs associated with forest fires. Canadian National Railway Co, which is in a legal dispute with…
Two companies owned by the billionaire Irving family in eastern Canada appear at odds over some of the details of the country’s largest oil pipeline project, which one of them backs. Forestry company J.D. Irving filed a notice with Canadian regulators this week, saying it was “vitally concerned” about how TransCanada Corp’s proposed Alberta-to-New Brunswick…
In a decision made Thursday, the B.C. Court of Appeal overturned the earlier decision that ordered the provincial government to pay Moulton Contracting Ltd. for the failed logging operations in the Fort Nelson area. What happened was that months before logging operations were to start, the B.C. Ministry of Forests received a threat from the…
Northern Pulp is poised to appeal its industrial approval permit. “The IA, as it was issued on Jan. 30, we intend to appeal because it was a flawed document,” Bruce Chapman, general manager of the Pictou County mill, said Thursday. “It really hampers our long-term success as a business. “There are people who suggest that we…
There may still be snow on the ground, but the province is already gearing up for wildfire season, which officially begins on March 1st. Preparations include getting crews, aircraft and equipment in place and deploying them to Alberta’s Forest Protection Area as required. Training is also underway for new firefighting personnel and Alberta’s lookout towers are being staffed….
Canada’s biggest railway reached a last-minute tentative agreement with one of its unions on Monday, averting a lockout that threatened to delay imports from Asia and compound a U.S. West Coast port logjam. Canadian National Railway Co and Unifor, the union representing its 4,800 mechanical, clerical and trucking workers, struck a deal just before the…
Global commodity prices have tumbled to levels below the depths of the Great Recession, underscoring the widespread difficulties facing the global economy. While crude oil’s price collapse has been in the spotlight, a wide range of other commodities are suffering as well, including natural gas, coal, iron ore, copper, grain and pulp and paper. The…
At first blush, year-end financials and stock prices for B.C.’s largest forest companies would suggest the province’s forestry sector is well on the road to recovery after a decade-long slump. Interfor Corp. (TSX:IFP), for example, posted record sales of $1.4 billion in 2014 and record production of 2.2 billion board feet. Stock values and market…