Biofuels and bioenergy have now become an essential component in the world’s renewable energy mix. Last month, French multinational energy company, Total (NYSE: TOT) and Bill Gates recently invested $14 million in a new biomass conversion technology from clean tech start up Renmatix. Renmatix is focused on the economical production of biochemicals and biofuels as an alternative to petro-driven fuels. Their Plantrose technology…

The one-year standstill period for launching trade action under the 2006 Canadian-U.S. softwood lumber agreement has now expired. So get ready for a very damaging timber war to begin. If the past is any indication, this bilateral conflict is not likely to end any time soon. In fact, the chances of an early lumber truce…

Quebec has hired a former Canadian ambassador to the United States to represent its interests in the difficult softwood lumber negotiations between Canada and its southern neighbour. Raymond Chretien was named Tuesday as Quebec’s representative in the ongoing talks, which could affect thousands of lumber jobs in the province. The Americans could start imposing duties…

Known for expressing concern for the thousands of Riding jobs at stake in forestry, Cheryl Gallant, MP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke has been asked to join the Conservative Opposition Softwood Lumber Taskforce to hold the Trudeau Liberals to account for solving the softwood lumber trade dispute with the United States. The failure to strike a new softwood lumber…

Canada could lose out in softwood lumber negotiations with the U.S. if it doesn’t get its “act together” and form a unified front, according to international trade lawyer Mark Warner. The two governments said Wednesday said they are continuing talks to try to reach a new softwood lumber deal, even though a one-year standstill period…

Thirty years ago; Canada and the United States negotiated their first, supposed “free trade agreement”, the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement. One of the key trade irritants between the two nations at the time was the softwood lumber dispute between Canada and the U.S. The nexus of the dispute was the claim by…

There’s some nervousness for Alberta’s forestry companies. But there’s also talk of new opportunity in China. The Softwood Lumber Agreement with the United States is about to close, and Alberta’s Minister of Economic Development and Trade sees reaching a deal as ‘very unlikely’. “It comes to a close in less than three weeks,” Deron Bilous…

There’s some nervousness for Alberta’s forestry companies. But there’s also talk of new opportunity in China. The Softwood Lumber Agreement with the United States is about to close, and Alberta’s Minister of Economic Development and Trade sees reaching a deal as ‘very unlikely’. “It comes to a close in less than three weeks,” Deron Bilous…

Williams Lake Plywood has been operating at its Williams Lake location since 1953, but it didn’t start out as a West Fraser owned plant and it didn’t always make plywood.  It was originally known as “All Fir”- finishing rough lumber from the surrounding bush mills. In 1958 it was purchased by Merrill and Gardner and…

While the rise of protectionism dominated the discussions among world leaders during the latest G20 summit, aViewpoint published today by the MEI shows among other things that the tariff barriers imposed on Canadian softwood lumber threaten nearly 22,000 jobs throughout the country. The tariffs applied following the latest deal allowed American producers to register additional net…