The one-year halt on the United States lumber industry’s ability to take legal action against Canadian softwood lumber producers passed last week, with no agreement struck yet. Last October, the most recent Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) of 2006 between the two northern countries expired, granting a one-year peace term for negotiations to take place before…
oday, Canadian Forest Industries published third-party confirmation that BC’s independent timber harvesting contractors are struggling the most compared to their colleagues across Canada. This national survey confirms the advocacy position the Truck Loggers Association (TLA) has taken for more than two years. “More than 25 contractors have had to seek insolvency protection in communities throughout…
The impact of the spruce beetle on Northern B.C. forests continues to grow, with areas impacted by the pest up 35 per cent in the last year. B.C.’s Spruce Beetle Project coordinator Heather Wiebe says the spread of the spruce beetle is concerning, but not as much as the mountain pine beetle’s rise was. “The way…
Just like the cedar they were carved from, new signs have rooted two communities together. Signs proclaiming the Monashee Community Forest were unveiled at the Splatsin First Nation and in Lumby Tuesday. “It’s a visual testament of the partnership between the Splatsin and Lumby,” said Rick Fairbairn, community forest president. The community forest, which began…
An external review of B.C.’s grizzly bear management procedures provided the province with 51 recommendations to enhance the system already in place. According to Minister of Forests and local MLA Steve Thomson, the province is now taking steps to improve its procedures in light of recommendations from the expert panel. The authors of the Scientific Review…
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…
Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF) says it will respect a B.C. Supreme Court decision to grant a new injunction to Peninsula Logging. The company was the successful bidder for the harvesting rights on cutblock A87125 on the slopes of Mount Elphinstone. BC Timber Sales (BCTS) put the block up for auction in June. BCTS said at…
Great Bear Rainforest Legislation: A Unique Solution Bob Craven, RPF, Interfor Corporation, Coastal Woodlands Land Use Mgr Not many people likely want to read about legislation; however, the Great Bear Rainforest (GBR) legislation is special. It’s the result of an epic journey — a story complete with drama, conflict and weary characters slogging through tough…