The Quebec government is hoping to give a shot in the arm to the province’s forestry sector by allowing lumber to be used in the construction of buildings up to 12 storeys tall. Premier Philippe Couillard says regulation changes were developed in consultation with the provincial agency responsible for the building code and with FPInnovations,…
At last Monday’s Committees of the Whole meeting, councilors were presented with a letter from Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, Bill Mauro. Here is the letter in its entirety: Thank you for your letter regarding the location of the southern boundaries of caribou ranges in northeastern Ontario. It was a pleasure to meet on…
The United Kingdom has announced plans to build the world’s largest biomass powerplant. The Tees Renewable Energy Plant (REP) will be located in the Port of Teesside, Middlesbrough and it will have a capacity of 299 MW. While the plant is designed to be able to function on a wide range of biofuels, its main intended power…
Utility’s major client billed mostly for thermal power; others pay more for renewables Nova Scotia Power Inc.’s largest customer, Port Hawkesbury Paper LP, is being shielded from mounting fuel costs falling on other ratepayers. While Port Hawkesbury Paper is billed primarily for cheaper thermal power, the rest of us pay for the boutique stuff coming…
A certified arborist is comparing his industry to the “wild west” as more and more people are taking up the job with little to no training in an attempt to cash in on the demand created by the emerald ash borer. Jamie Enright said that while he has been trained to use ropes to climb up towering trees…
Critics say the province is spending huge amounts of taxpayers money fighting forest fires when it should be focusing its efforts on preventing them. Climate models predict hot, dry summers will be the new normal in B.C., and forestry experts such as Lori Daniels say the province needs to be realistic. The province allocated $63 million to fight…
Obama may be on the point of giving Keystone XL a definitive thumbs down Liberal leader Justin Trudeau’s comment this week about wanting to grow the economy “from the heart outwards” is destined to haunt him. Big Dipper Tom Mulcair immediately leapt on the bêtise, claiming “I don’t think you can grow the economy with…
The Biomass North Development Centre plans to roll out its region-wide strategy in the coming months to add value to the North’s forestry industry. A North Bay-based biomass advocacy group has resurfaced with a new name and renewed vigour to continue to take Northern Ontario’s forestry sector in a new strategic direction. The former staff…
There could be a bit of Algonquin Provincial Park in nearly every bag of Doritos. And Jeff Muzzi, resource forester for Ensyn Technologies Inc. based in Renfrew, says there are also traces of the province’s oldest park in a variety of brand name barbecue sauces, potato chips, bacon, spice mixes and more. It is because…
Turns out it might be bugs that can answer whether a tree falling in the forest makes a sound. As much of Western Canada faces worsening drought, the region’s forests are drying out – and as the trees dehydrate, they make sounds that attract the kinds of insects that can then kill them off, says…