The Newfoundland and Labrador Forest Industry Association has been formed.
The association’s executive director Bill Dawson, attended the Forestry Innovation Day workshop held in Corner Brook, which was the first event in which the fledgling association has participated.
According to a report in the Western Star, the organization currently is made up of four entities which account for 96 percent of the forestry industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. Those include Corner Brook Pulp and Paper and three sawmills — Burton’s Cove Logging and Lumber in Hampden, Sexton’s Lumber in Bloomfield and Cottles Island Lumber in Summerford.
Dawson said there were some initial talks last year of forming the association, but the parties involved finally got together recently and began formalizing the partnership. It’s so new, the association is still finalizing its bylaws and plans for the industry.
“We’re looking forward to finding common ground amongst ourselves on how we can move this industry forward to be more economically viable for ourselves and for the province,” said Dawson.