Denis Lebel is poised to become the next president and CEO of Quebec’s forest industry association, Conseil de l’industrie forestière du Québec (CIFQ), starting in September. He succeeds André Tremblay, who has led the association since 2011. Lebel is a former federal Member of Parliament for the riding of Lac-Sant-Jean. “I wanted to continue to…
Professor Robert M. Wright has been appointed Dean of the Faculty of Forestry at University of Toronto for a two-year term ending June 30, 2019. Professor Wright holds his faculty appointment in the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design and currently serves as Director of the Centre for Landscape Research (CLR). He…
From tiny seedlings mighty cedars grow. Or, in this case, from $30,000 grows a $1.3-million biomass boiler that can heat a community. The $30,000 was capacity funding provided through the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund to Old Massett Village Council. Part of the Haida Nation, the council needed funding in 2013 to complete a…
A group of five advocates for Nova Scotia woodlot owners toured Finland last fall to observe the organization and management of small private woodlots. The tour participants have organized their observations and data into a report, Small Private Forestry in Finland – 2016 Learning Tour Summary Report, giving details and comparative analysis that demonstrate how…
For several months, a coalition of indigenous and municipal leaders, chambers of commerce, unions and forest sector companies has been voicing concerns over new rules for species at risk in Ontario. The group cited “a lack of meaningful consultation by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).” According to the Federation of Northern Ontario…
Russia has emerged as one of the winners from the trade dispute between Canada and the U.S over lumber, the Globe and Mail reports. U.S. government data shows that the nation is importing more softwood lumber from overseas since it imposed tariffs on Canadian suppliers, making them more expensive. Russian shipments are reported to be…
VICTORIA – B.C.’s wildfire-driven provincial state of emergency has been formally extended again, through the end of the day on Sept. 1, 2017. This is the third time the state of emergency has been extended, with previous extensions on July 19 and Aug. 4. The state of emergency declaration will continue to apply to the…
OTTAWA, ON – The Sustainable Forestry Initiative welcomed two new officers and one new member to its board of directors: Mark Rodgers as board chair, Guy Gleysteen as vice-chair, and Laura Downey as a new member in the social chamber. “Mark brings experience as a community leader and builder, Guy works as a senior executive…
WASHINGTON – The United States and Canada failed to settle a festering trade dispute on softwood lumber ahead of talks to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but Reuters reports that officials from both countries have said they will keep the lumber negotiations on a separate, parallel track. Both U.S. lumber producers and…
Returning from six-day mission to the United States, Quebec’s Minister of Forests, Fauna and Parks, Luc Blanchette, feels his visits will have positive effects for the forest sector. Minister Blanchette said he is confident this mission will have positive spin-offs for the Quebec forest sector and the negotiations for a new softwood lumber agreement. He…