Region Archives: Canada

Business & Politics

US Lumber Coalition comments on 2019 antidumping order, says majority of $7.2B paid to date by Canadian mills will go US Treasury

The US Lumber Coalition
September 16, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Zoltan van Heyningen

WASHINGTON — The US Lumber Coalition supports Canada’s decision to drop its appeal of the second administrative review of the antidumping order in the trade case against unfairly traded softwood lumber imports from Canada. This step finalizes the total antidumping liability for Canadian softwood lumber producers who dumped their product into the US market in 2019. …“With the conclusion of this appeal, Canadian lumber producers will now owe US taxpayers an additional $236 million. That liability reflects the high level of dumping that occurred in 2019 and sets the stage for a total estimated payment of $760 million once the anti-subsidy portion of that review is completed,” stated Zoltan van Heyningen, Executive Director of the U.S. Lumber Coalition. To date, Canadian softwood lumber producers have paid an estimated $7.2 billion in duties as a result of their unfair trade practices, the majority of which will be liquidated into the US Treasury.

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Can Canada finally sell more of its lumber overseas?

By Adam Radwanski
The Globe and Mail
September 15, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

Shortly after Prime Minister Carney’s announcement of $500-million to help Canada’s softwood-lumber industry decrease its reliance on the hostile US market, BC’s Forestry Minister offered a modest target of 10%. …History suggests, however, that even that degree of market diversification stands to be an uphill battle. …While there have been modest inroads in China and Japan, diversification has mostly proved quixotic − partly because the proximity of the massive US housing market, for which there is not enough lumber harvested stateside to serve, has been a disincentive to reach further….Rick Doman, chair BC’s Forestry Innovation Investment board − mentioned South Korea, Vietnam, India, Australia, Britain. …Canada Wood Group president Bruce St. John describe it as a painstaking process involving promotional efforts, direct engagement with local governments on building codes and standards, and expertise-building for industry. …To succeed, particularly amid growing softwood-export competition from Europe especially, will require steady focus through and perhaps beyond the Trump era. [to access the full story a Globe & Mail subscription is required]

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Beyond Tariffs: A Policy Prescription for Bolstering Canada’s Forest Economy

By Derek Nighbor, FPAC and John Desjarlais, Indigenous Resource Network
Policy Magazine
September 15, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

John Desjarlais

Derek Nighbor

Canada’s forest sector stands at a pivotal moment. And while Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent softwood lumber support package offers a welcome first step toward stabilizing the sector, more can be done to put Canadian forestry on a permanent and sustainable path to growth. But persistent trade uncertainty — including the increased duties on softwood lumber exports to the U.S. — threatens both the thousands of jobs at risk as trade negotiations continue and Canada’s ability to operate at scale. …Canada must strengthen itself by adopting a streamlined, outcomes-based regulatory framework that leverages provincial standards and reduces unnecessary duplication. …This is not about deregulation; it’s about smarter regulation—an approach that leverages existing systems, reduces duplication, and focuses on outcomes. It aims to do more with less, protect the environment, support forest-dependent communities, ensure Indigenous participation, and bolster Canada’s global competitiveness. Canada’s forest sector needs the regulatory framework to better enable its full potential.

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‘Frustrating’: Forestry strike continues on north Island

By Dean Stoltz
Chek News
September 15, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

VANCOUVER ISLAND — Over 3 months later, 105 forestry workers are still on the picket lines this week after walking off the job June 6, and it doesn’t look like they expect to be going back to work anytime soon. …“I didn’t think we’d get to this point,” said United Steelworkers’ Jason Cox. …The union says the company wants to contract out jobs but La-kwa sa muqw Forestry says that’s not the case, it just wants to give new employees the choice. Operations manager Greg DeMille said, “They are demanding that we agree to mandatory union certification. And so with that and the fact we can’t agree to that because we feel it impacts employee’s rights to choose and has an impact to First Nations rights to free, prior and informed consent. …The union says it respects First Nation rights but insists this should be considered a “normal labour dispute” and nothing else. 

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Uncertain future for 400 employees of Domtar’s Kénogami and Dolbeau plants

By David-Alexandre Vincent
TVA Nouvelles
September 15, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

QUEBEC — Just over 400 Domtar workers in Kénogami and Dolbeau, in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, are uncertain about the future of their plants. Unifor is scheduled to meet with senior management shortly to provide an update on the situation. “This year, production shutdowns have been more significant and longer than usual,” said Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier. The decline in demand for newsprint is forcing the company to adjust and review its business model. According to him, Domtar is managing the decline, but this strategy does not position the regional facilities for the long term. The union wants to discuss alternative solutions to ensure future prospects. …”It’s not necessarily about reassurance, we want the truth,” says Gilles Vaillancourt, of the Kénogami Pulp and Paper Workers Union. …Domtar assures it “continues to operate its various mills responsibly in order to address market trends,” while maintaining dialogue with the unions. [original article in French, translation by Google Translate]

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Finance & Economics

2025 forest product trade trends

By George Lauriat, Editor in Chief
The American Journal of Transportation
September 16, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

…The all-out tariff war initiated by the Trump administration has thrown international trade into chaos and forest products are no exception and retaliation isn’t always in the form of more tariffs. For example, back in March the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) announced it was banning the imports of US logs. GACC stated that these suspensions were in response to recent detections of forest pests such as bark beetles and longhorn beetles in US shipments. …On August 22nd President Trump announced that the administration would complete a Section 232 investigation into imported furniture within 50 days. …Of course, in July President Trump signed an executive order to impose a 50% tariff on imports from Brazil which also includes wood and wood products which took effect on August 6th. The main forest product exemption to the tariff is imported Brazilian wood pulp. …In the short term, confusion in the forest product sector is likely to continue.

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US-Canada dispute threatens supply and American homeownership availability

By Julie Gedeon
The American Journal of Transportation
September 16, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Major concerns are being expressed on both sides of the border regarding the higher US duties on Canada’s softwood lumber. …The current 35.19% duty, along with any steeper tariff, is detrimental to US homebuilders and homebuyers longer term, warns Rose Quint, of NAHB Survey Research. Higher mortgage rates of 6% to 7% since 2022 have already weakened housing demand and caused lumber prices to edge downwards. The real effect of tariffs might be delayed by wholesalers having stocked up building materials earlier in the year to avoid higher tariffs “Years of building above and beyond our traditional baseline is required to make up the 1.5 million deficit that we have in new housing units,” Quint adds. …Affordability challenges already existed and will be further worsened by the higher costs. …The overriding hope among the Canadian producers and American homebuilders is that a suitable agreement will be reached between the US and Canada. 

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Trucking and other transport impacted by lumber dispute

By Julie Gedeon
The American Journal of Transportation
September 16, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Higher duty rate and possible additional tariffs have transportation modes on edge. The softwood lumber dispute threatens to have repercussions on various transportation modes, particularly trucking. “Our members are saying their business is still okay, even with the softer rates due to mill overcapacity, but they’re worried that if anyone pushes on this wall with more tariffs, there’s nothing to hold it up,” says Dave Earle, the BC Trucking Association’s CEO. …Trucking has already been dealing with the overcapacity that was put in place for the greater demands for deliveries for most everything during the pandemic but has not subsided. …In terms of rail services, CPKC has seen its forest product shipments rise this year to date based on revenue ton miles. …At the Port of Vancouver in British Columbia, the potential to export more lumber is significant with approximately half of last year’s containers leaving the port empty.

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Canada’s annual pace of housing starts in August down 16% from July

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
September 16, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada

The six-month trend in housing starts increased (1.6%) in August (267,259 units), according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). …The total monthly SAAR of housing starts for all areas in Canada was down 16% in August (245,791 units) compared to July (293,537 units). “The slowdown in the SAAR that we saw in August is notable as it is well below the six-month trend line. If sustained, this adjustment in the level of housing starts would be consistent with both our forecast and current market intelligence indicating a slowdown in the pace of housing construction. It is worth noting that current housing starts levels are generally reflective of decisions made when interest rates were receding and investor confidence was higher than it is today,” said Kevin Hughes, CMHC’s Deputy Chief Economist.

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Canada’s inflation rate rose to 1.9% in August

By Jenna Benchetrit
CBC News
September 16, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada

Canada’s annual inflation rate rose to 1.9% in August, Statistics Canada said on Tuesday, the final piece of economic data to be released before the Bank of Canada’s next interest rate decision. The higher rate was largely expected. Gas prices, which dropped at a rate of more than 16% in July, were still declining in August — but at a slower pace than they had previously, contributing to the upward tick in the overall inflation rate. …With gas stripped away from the overall inflation rate, the numbers mostly ticked down in August. Economists anticipate that the central bank will cut rates by 25 basis points during its Wednesday meeting — which would mark the bank’s first cut since March. “This report was mostly a low-drama affair,” wrote Douglas Porter, chief economist at BMO, in a note to clients. The pace of price growth “won’t cause the Bank of Canada much stress,” Porter wrote.

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Value of Canadian building permits edge down in July to $11.9 billion

Statistics Canada
September 12, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada

In July, the total value of building permits issued in Canada edged down $10.8 million (-0.1%) to $11.9 billion. Overall, the decrease in construction intentions was led by the non-residential sector (-$279.2 million), but this was largely offset by a rise in the residential sector (+$268.3 million). On a constant dollar basis (2023=100), the total value of building permits issued in July declined 0.3% from the previous month and was down 8.2% on a year-over-year basis. …Despite the downward trend since January 2025, residential construction intentions rose $268.3 million to $7.3 billion in July. The national increase in the residential sector in July was driven by Ontario (+$497.5 million).

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Limberlost Place: A New Era for Mass Timber

Canadian Wood Council
September 17, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada

We’re proud to share the story of Limberlost Place, the world’s first 10-storey exposed mass timber academic tower — a landmark project at George Brown College that redefines what’s possible in sustainable construction. Limberlost Place demonstrates how mass timber reduces carbon, enhances well-being, and delivers design innovation at scale. It’s also a story of collaboration — bringing together architects, engineers, contractors, and educators to set a new standard for the built environment. Watch the full video case study now to see how Canada is building a more sustainable future.

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Canada’s Wood Industry Applauds Build Canada Homes Initiative, Calls for Bold Action on Rapid Housing Delivery

CWC and FPAC
September 15, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada

The Canadian Wood Council (CWC) welcomes the federal government’s launch of the Build Canada Homes (BCH) agency, announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Backed by a $13 billion investment and a plan to construct 4,000 homes across six federally owned sites, BCH will fast-track the delivery of affordable, sustainable housing nationwide. “This commitment to factory-built housing and prefabricated building components, including both mass timber and light wood frame systems, directly supports the architects, engineers, and builders we work with every day. It enables them to rapidly deploy quality homes at scale, while meeting Canada’s sustainability and affordability goals,” said Rick Jeffery, President and CEO of CWC. “We’re especially encouraged by BCH’s plan to adopt a ‘Buy Canadian’ policy and streamline permitting for bulk projects.”

Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) welcomes the federal government’s creation of the Build Canada Homes (BCH) agency. “The top priority of our sector continues to be seeing the federal government get the best trade deal possible at the Canada-US negotiating table. There are no measures that will offset the impacts of a prolonged trade dispute with our biggest trading partner. That said, we welcome Prime Minister Carney’s commitment to working with us on a plan for the long-term, which includes building more with Canadian wood products here at home and finding new pathways to bring more Canadian wood exports to other parts of the world,” said Derek Nighbor, President and CEO of FPAC.

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Carney announces launch of new housing agency, earmarks funding for new projects

By Darren Major
CBC News
September 14, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Sunday afternoon the launch of Build Canada Homes, the federal government’s new agency that will oversee federal housing programs. The agency was part of the Liberals’ election promise to double housing construction. The government is touting Build Canada Homes as a centralized agency to oversee new affordable housing programs initiated at the federal level. Carney said the agency will “supercharge housing construction across Canada” by helping to build supportive and transitional housing in collaboration with provinces, territories and Indigenous communities. It will also expand “deeply affordable and community housing” and partner with private developers to build homes for the middle class. The prime minister also announced that former Toronto city councillor Ana Bailão will be the CEO of Build Canada Homes. …Carney said $13 billion is earmarked for the new agency.

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Programs to help advance your career in the lumber and sawmill sector

By Linh Tran
British Columbia Institute of Technology
September 17, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

The BCIT School of Construction and the Environment offers two Associate Certificate programs designed to support workforce development in the North American lumber and sawmill sector: Industrial Wood Processing (IWP) & and Business of Sawmilling (BOS). The programs were developed in collaboration with industry experts to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to advance their careers while meeting the evolving demands of the sector. Both programs are delivered online, on a part-time basis, and over 12 months. The programs are designed to allow working professionals to gain practical, job-relevant skills through formal education while balancing their workplace responsibilities.

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How do you build a house that could get grandma through the apocalypse?

By Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood
The Narwhal
September 16, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada West

Since wildfires tore through his Yunesit’in community in 2017, Russell Myers Ross has been pursuing a dream: building a fire-resistant house that will survive everything climate change can throw at it. …The design includes a white, highly reflective metal roof that deflects heat and is fire-resistant, gravel lining the house and sprinklers facing the walls — using easily accessible technologies for a resilient home that makes sense for the dry, hot interior of B.C. …Ross and professor John Bass from the University of British Columbia’s school of architecture and landscape architecture released videos of the prototype on Monday that include a three-dimensional walk-through of the design and community members speaking to the importance of getting this house built.

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Mass timber going mainstream in B.C. despite growing pains

By Jami Makan
Business in Vancouver
September 13, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

Mass timber is making a bold entrance in B.C. real estate, but experts say it faces hurdles including supply-demand mismatch and fire safety concerns. The province’s mass timber industry is seeing growth. About 450 mass-timber buildings were completed or under construction in the province as of December 2024, up from about 410 a year prior, said a statement from the B.C. Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth. …Wider adoption may hinge on developers changing their mindset. Better alignment is needed between supply chains and developer demand in order for new construction methods to really take off, said Andrew Stiffman, vice-president of construction services with Kalesnikoff Mass Timber Inc. …There is incongruity between the way some buildings are designed and the way his industry is currently set up to deliver them. …Public perceptions of fire safety may also be holding the industry back.

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Forestry

Building to the forest’s edge fuels fire danger

By Cloe Logan Rory White
National Observer
September 16, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

… Fires in Canada’s Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) are becoming more common as cities continue to sprawl, increasing the risk to structures. Regions across the country are grappling with the competing pressures of building housing and expanding industry, while climate change… continues to create hot, dry conditions that make wildfires more intense and frequent. A paper released in 2024 states that the “unprecedented expansion of global urbanization” has led to huge expansion of the WUI globally — by nearly 36 per cent since 2000, with 85 per cent of that growth occurring between 2010 and 2020. The study findings highlight the urgency of implementing tailored fire management strategies in WUI areas. However, there are no up-to-date figures on WUI in Canada, though Natural Resources Canada notes, “the risk of WUI fire is expected to increase both in regions of Canada with a long history of wildfires and in those with no such history.” 

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Recognizing Canada’s Emerging Forestry Professionals

Forest Products Association of Canada
September 15, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

This summer, five exceptional students from across Canada were selected for the Forest Products Association of Canada’s (FPAC) 2025 Green Dream Internship Program, an initiative that continues to spotlight the next generation of forestry professionals. Now in its twelfth year, the Green Dream Internship offers students a unique opportunity to explore the forest sector from the inside out. Over six weeks, interns shared their experiences through creative storytelling—capturing everyday moments in forest operations, conducting interviews, and reflecting on their career journeys. Each intern received a $1,000 scholarship to support their studies. “As these students return to their studies and continue building their expertise, they now carry with them an even deeper understanding of the sector’s challenges, innovations, and opportunities,” said Derek Nighbor, FPAC’s President and CEO. 

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Fire ban to lift Wednesday for northern part of Vancouver Island

By Marc Kitteringham
Victoria News
September 16, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

The Coastal Fire Centre is lifting the campfire ban for the Campbell River, North Island and Sunshine Coast forest districts as of Sept. 17 at noon. Due to declining fire danger ratings on the northern part of Vancouver Island, the Province has chosen to re-allow campfires and other small fires in the area. Campfires will remain prohibited for the rest of the Coastal Fire Centre, with the exception of the Haida Gwaii Forest District. The activities that will be allowed also include the use of sky lanterns, wood-fired hot tubs, pizza ovens and other devices that are not vented through a flue or are incorporated into buildings. Category 2 and 3 open fires remain prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre, which includes backyard burning, industrial burning, fireworks, burn barrels and burn cages. These restrictions will remain in place until 12:00 (noon), PDT, on Friday October 31, 2025, or until the order is rescinded.

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Public feedback key as Revelstoke corp eyes 253 ha of logging near Downie Arm

By Evert Lindquist
Revelstoke Review
September 16, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

This summer, the Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation (RCFC) published a Forest Operations Map for public review of a series of cutblock and logging road proposals… The map remained available Aug. 15 until Saturday, Sept. 13, with RCFC pursuing three years of cutting and road-building 70 kilometres north of Revelstoke near Downie Arm. …But community members having the chance to submit comments and concerns directly to a licensee … was part of a “relatively new process” implemented last year by the B.C. government, Wildsight conservation specialist Eddie Petryshen explained. Effective since April 2024, the province has amended its Forest and Range Practices Act to require that licensees provide a Forest Operations Map for public comment as part of the review and approval process. Petryshen said B.C.’s forestry management has spun in cycles, rather than evolve, and “who knows what cycle we’re in now.” But looking ahead, he’s hopeful RCFC will take the feedback it gathered to heart.

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Vancouver Island municipality’s move to consider logging upsets collaboration efforts, says First Nation

By Edzi’u Loverin
CBC News
September 15, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

First Nations in the North Cowichan region on Vancouver Island say a motion by the municipality is undermining collaborative efforts on the future of logging in the region’s forest reserve. …Cindy Daniels, chief of Cowichan Tribes, said the move by the council “undermines the collaborative nature” of work to date on a joint plan for the forest. …The North Cowichan council has been in discussions for a collaborative framework with Quw’utsun Nation since 2021 and announced a commitment to establish a co-management strategy for the forest reserve in April 2024. …Gary Merkel, director of the Centre for Indigenous Land Stewardship at UBC…. “It’s a little bit ahead of itself that motion, but not too far. I mean, they haven’t said ‘we’re just going to go and log,’ they’ve allowed the possibility”. …”We are going to get a staff report outlining some of the implications and next steps,” North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas said.

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Forest Practices Board to audit stand-level biodiversity practices in Mackenzie District

BC Forest Practices Board
September 15, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

MACKENZIE – The Forest Practices Board is launching a limited-scope audit in the Mackenzie Natural Resource District to assess how licensees manage biodiversity in forest stands through the use of block reserves. Fieldwork for the audit will begin Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, and will examine forestry activities of three licensees from Sept. 1, 2023, to Sept. 26, 2025, to evaluate compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act. The three licensees selected for the audit are BC Timber Sales Prince George area, the McLeod Lake Mackenzie Community Forest and Conifex Timber Inc. The Mackenzie district spans about 6.41 million hectares within B.C.’s Omineca region. …Sixteen First Nations have overlapping territories in the area, including the Kwadacha and Tsay Keh Dene Nations and the McLeod Lake Indian Band. First Nations rely on the area for cultural practices, sustenance and spiritual well-being. Recent years have seen an increase in woodland licences and forest-industry partnerships with local Nations.

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Fire-damaged road to Bamfield set to reopen at end of October

By Cindy Harnett
Victoria Times Colonist
September 16, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

The fire-ravaged Bamfield Main Road, which connects Bamfield and several First Nation communities to Port Alberni, will reopen by the end of October, the Transportation Ministry announced. The ministry said temporary closures could still occur, however, during periods of heavy rain and strong winds. It said a geotechnical assessment to identify hazards, and assessments of the stability of trees are ongoing. Based on those findings, thresholds are being established for wind and rain events that will trigger increased patrols of Bamfield Main and potentially closures. A weather station and closure gates will be installed in the coming weeks, according to the ministry, which is leading efforts to reopen the road with Mosaic Forest Management, the company that oversees the affected stretch. …Ditidaht Nation Chief Judi Thomas said she suspects the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, Huu-ay-aht First Nation and Mosaic and Bamfield would be more than happy to support a provincial paved alternate route.

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Minister of Forests visits Malcolm Knapp Research Forest

By the Faculty of Forestry
The University of British Columbia
September 15, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

On September 11, 2025, UBC’s Faculty of Forestry welcomed British Columbia’s Minister of Forests, Ravi Parmar, to the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest (MKRF) to witness the critical work being done to advance sustainable forest management and educate the next generation of foresters. The tour, led by Dr. Dominik Roeser, Associate Dean of Research Forests and Community Outreach, and joined by Dr. Robert Kozak, Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Forestry and Hélène Marcoux, Malcolm Knapp Research Forest Manager, provided an important opportunity to showcase MKRF’s role in bridging scientific research, education and practical forest management. Minister Parmar’s visit included important conversations focused on forest stewardship and the role research plays, not just in understanding forests, but also in driving innovation, education, and creating future opportunities. Minister Parmar was able to see firsthand the vital research taking place to support both industry and government, and the advancement of sustainable forest management practices in British Columbia.

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Old-growth protesters in Walbran Valley stay put as BC Supreme Court approves injunction

By Robyn Bell
The Capital Daily
September 15, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

The ancient forests near Fairy Creek, where the largest act of civil disobedience in Canadian history took place in 2021, have been fairly silent for nearly four years. But as logging in Vancouver Island’s old-growth forests picks up, protesters have returned to protect these ancient trees. On Friday, BC Supreme Court judge Amy Francis approved an injunction requested by Tsawak-qin Forestry Inc.—co-owned by Western Forest Products and the Huu-ay-aht First Nations—after two days of hearings. Those named in the injunction—including Elder Bill Jones…are banned from blocking the logging company’s access to old-growth forests in the Tree Farm License 44 area. …The removal of the sculpture and the people protesting could happen at any time. Today, blockaders at Cougar Camp—named for the sculpture blocking the logging road—said they were ready and waiting to be arrested while protecting Upper Walbran. 

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Larry Pedersen: Reflections from BC’s 14th Chief Forester

BC Forest History Association
September 11, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Zoom Presentation TODAY, 7:00 pm. The BC Forest History Association Speaker Series presents Larry Pedersen! Larry was BC Provincial Chief Forester from 1994 to 2004. A graduate from UBC with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry in 1975, he became a registered Professional Forester in 1977. During his career, he advanced through a number of positions in the Forest Service and he also worked in the private sector. Larry will discuss some important historical events that helped shape forestry in the province, explain how he ended up in the job, discuss some of the challenges that he faced, and will tell some stories about things that were said and done during his tenure. The presentation is intended to highlight just a few of the many important events that have shaped forestry in the province. To register for this free Zoom presentation use this Zoom Registration Link

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Indigenous firefighter group seek same pay for same work as Government of the Northwest Territories crews

By Lisa Iesse
My True North Now
September 13, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

A group of Indigenous wildland firefighters have been battling blazes alongside Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) firefighters, but said they are being denied the same wages for the same work. Josée-Anne Spirito, who is a vice president at the Public Service Alliance of Canada, told True North FM that mediation efforts have failed and arbitration has been delayed as the group waits for a response from the employer, Evergreen Forestry. Spirito said the group of 32 Indigenous Wildland firefighters have been without a collective agreement since Dec. 2023. …During that same period of time, the GNWT’s Wildland firefighters have had a 2.5 per cent increase per year for both years. The group said their dispute is with the employer, Evergreen Forestry. The company is overseen by the Deh Gáh Got’ı̨ę First Nation and the Kátł’odeeche First Nation under contract with the GNWT.

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Logging firm wins injunction to halt Walbran Valley blockade on Vancouver Island

By Daryll Greer
Canadian Press in CTV News
September 12, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

VANCOUVER — The BC Supreme Court has granted an injunction to a forestry company to halt a blockade against old-growth logging in the Walbran Valley on Vancouver Island, in a ruling that has been hailed by a group of First Nations that want the “unlawful occupation” ended. The protesters are mostly anonymous although BC Supreme Court Justice Amy Francis said that they include some of the same group involved in the blockade at nearby Fairy Creek. Francis said protests “are part of a healthy democracy. Criminal conduct is not.” …Michelle Corfield, a spokeswoman for a group of First Nations, said the territory belongs to the Pacheedaht First Nation. “I just really want everybody to understand how deeply hurt the Pacheedaht people are about this unlawful occupation,” she said. …Francis said the law around granting injunctions is well established, and “it appears clear that the defendants’ actions are criminal in nature.”

Related news, Press Release by the Tsawak-qin Forestry Limited Partnership: Statement from C̕awak ʔqin Forestry regarding the court’s decision to grant an injunction application in the Walbran

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Conservationists decry lack of progress 5 years after B.C.’s old-growth logging review

By Chad Pawson
CBC News
September 13, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

It’s been five years since the B.C. government promised to overhaul how old-growth trees are logged in the province — a process that was supposed to take three years — and conservationists say the province’s heel-dragging is resulting in preventable biodiversity loss. …”This isn’t just about trees. It’s about climate, community safety, Indigenous rights and the future of forests in B.C.,” said Tobyn Neame, a campaigner with the Wilderness Committee, in one of several releases from similar groups marking the anniversary of the report. …Conservationists argue the province has not moved deliberately to accomplish the 14 recommendations in the report, the culmination of B.C.’s Old Growth Strategic Review process. …In early September, the Provincial Forest Advisory Council, an independent group of forestry experts, announced a new public-facing website seeking input over the issue.

Additional coverage in the Vancouver Sun, by Tiffany Crawford: Languishing ‘in the doldrums’: Conservation groups demand action on B.C.’s old-growth logging review

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Celebrating the role of First Nations in the forestry economy

By Robin Grant
Campbell River Mirror
September 12, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

First Nations have a long and rich history in the forestry economy, having harvested trees for building, canoe-making and for cultural or ceremonial practices for thousands of years. …To celebrate this long history, members of the Na̲nwak̲olas Council, along with guests and community members, gathered in the H’kusam Forest on Aug. 27. The event was an opportunity to reflect on the First Nations’ past and share their vision for the future of forestry in their territories. The H’kusam Forest, near Sayward, is a prime example of the First Nations’ sustainable forestry management and cultural practices.  …Collaborating with the Nations through the La-kwa sa muqk Forestry Partnership is a point of pride for Steven Hofer, president and CEO of Western Forest Products. “Predictable, sustainable timber from La-kwa sa muqk is key to the success of our sawmills on Vancouver Island and to the broader regional economy,” Hofer said.

Media Release by The Na̲nwak̲olas Council: Honouring First Nations in the Forest Economy

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4 years after Fairy Creek, a new battle over B.C.’s old-growth forests looms in the Walbran Valley

By Shannon Waters
The Narwhal
September 12, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

A B.C. Supreme Court justice has ordered a group of people blocking a logging road in the Walbran Valley on southern Vancouver Island to stop. The decision to grant an injunction to Tsawak-qin Forestry Limited Partnership, a joint partnership between the Huu-ay-aht First Nations and Western Forest Products, alongside an enforcement order is expected to set the stage for the RCMP to remove people from the area. This fight over British Columbia’s old-growth forests comes four years after the start of the historic Fairy Creek protests, where more than 1,100 people were arrested. The Walbran Valley blockade began in late August and has prevented a logging company from working and accessing tools, equipment and vehicles on the other side of the blockade. Pacheedaht Elder Bill Jones, who was at the forefront of the Fairy Creek protests, is one of the parties named in the court filing, and the only person to respond to the application. 

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Okanagan-Similkameen flood concerns focus of anti-logging film screening

By Barry Gerding
The Similkameen Spotlight
September 14, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Any forest industry supporters probably felt a little uncomfortable sitting in the audience for the screening and panel discussion about how clear-cut logging is impacting community watersheds in B.C. Along with the showing of the documentary Trouble In The Headwaters, speakers joined the Interior Watershed Task Force to discuss the need for drastic changes to B.C.’s logging of primary forests and community watersheds. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs spoke about the need to resuscitate the environment and place a higher priority on the preservation of the water supply. …Other speakers included former B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau, former MLA from Prince George Mike Morris, Westbank First Nation professional forester David Gill and Dr. Younes Alila, professor of hydrology at UBC. …”We have already lost most of our forest cover, the most powerful natural protection against flood and drought risk,” said Alila. 

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Kaslo, B.C., woman brings home timbersports championship title for 2nd year in a row

By Courtney Dickson
CBC News
September 14, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Andrea Hand

As Andrea Hand’s axe slid all the way through the cottonwood block during the underhand chop competition at the Stihl Timbersports Canadian Championships on Sept. 5, host Ryan McIntyre’s voice rose with anticipation. McIntyre, a logger sport athlete himself, wondered whether Hand had just set a new world record for women’s underhand chop at the competition held in London, Ont. She finished the chop in 21.65 seconds. For those just learning about the sport — that’s good. “I knew that I had never seen that time before,” said Hand. Judges looked over the cut as spectators waited with bated breath. “We have a new world record. It’s a good cut,” the judge announced. Hand’s world record in the women’s championships beat a record set earlier this year by American athlete Erin Lavoie. Hand also took home the Pro Women’s Championship title for the second year in a row. 

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What fish in northwestern Ontario reveal about the impact of climate change, forestry

By Rajpreet Sahota
CBC News
September 15, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada East

Researchers from Trent University are immersing themselves in forests and streams in northwestern Ontario to understand how forestry practices and climate change affect brook trout populations and freshwater ecosystems. The team is working in the Walkinshaw and Wolf watersheds, northeast of Thunder Bay. They are focusing on headwater streams, which are small rivers that feed larger waterways across the Great Lakes. “Northern freshwater ecosystems are currently experiencing major disturbances, two of which are forest harvest and climate change. One of the effects of climate change is an increase in water temperatures. And the consequences of these predicted increased temperatures on the stream ecosystem are still unclear,” said PhD student Celeste Milli, who is leading the fieldwork. …Milli said the research could help inform science-based policy decisions in Canada’s northern forests, ensuring that both forest ecosystems and freshwater resources remain resilient in a changing climate.

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Port Hawkesbury Paper suspends logging in Cape Breton Highlands amid Mi’kmaw blockade

By Sis’moqon
CBC News
September 12, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada East

NOVA SCOTIA — A company responsible for logging in an area on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia has temporarily suspended its operations after a group of Mi’kmaq blocked the road into the forest. …Now discussions between the province and Mi’kmaw organizations are taking place over how to address concerns over forestry management of the Cape Breton Highlands. The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs said in a statement Friday that it met with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, provincial ministers and Port Hawkesbury Paper to discuss the concerns. ….Despite the ongoing talks, organizers say that they don’t plan on stopping the blockade. …Port Hawkesbury Paper mill co-manager Bevan Lock said “We are proud of the ongoing dialogue we’ve had with Mi’kmaw organizations and the assembly over the years, and we want to help the broader community better understand what we do and how important the forests are to us, too.” 

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Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

CO280 Awards Pre-FEED Contracts for an 800,000 Tonnes per Year Carbon Removal Project at a Pulp and Paper Mill in Canada

By CO280
Cision Newswire
September 16, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada

VANCOUVER, BC – CO280 Solutions Inc. (CO280), a leading developer of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects, in collaboration with a pulp and paper partner, has awarded Preliminary Front-End Engineering and Design (Pre-FEED) contracts to technology and engineering suppliers for a groundbreaking carbon removal project in Canada. The project is designed to capture and permanently store over 800,000 tonnes per year of biogenic CO2, beginning in 2029. The resulting CDR credits will be sold to buyers in the carbon market. The award of the Pre-FEED contracts follows the successful completion of a Pre-Feasibility study by CO280 and the pulp and paper mill partner in 2024. The Pre-FEED study will evaluate the integration of commercially proven liquid amine carbon capture technology into the existing mill infrastructure. In parallel, CO280 and its partners have initiated marketing and sales of CDR credits to buyers in the carbon market, community engagement consultations, and project financing.

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Lakehead University researchers lead $1.67M global effort to help forests adapt to climate change

By Desmond Brown
CBC News
September 15, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada East

Brigitte Leblon

Amid a stark increase in forest fires in recent years, a global project led by Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont., aims to determine how woodland areas can adapt to climate change. Natural resource management experts at Lakehead are leading the $1.67-million global research project, which includes other Canadian universities and one in Germany. The multi-year research is being funded by the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation in that western European country. “The forest is made of wood, and the first thing wood is doing is burning,” lead researcher Brigitte Leblon of Lakehead told CBC News. “Fires become more and more intense and huge because of climate change. More drought means more intense fires, and when the fire is more intense, automatically, large areas are burned.” …They’ll be examining tree genetics, ecosystems, policy and land-use planning, as well as how biological, ecological and social systems interact to shape forest health in a changing climate.

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Health & Safety

See Tracks? Think Train® Week

Operation Lifesaver, Inc.
September 15, 2025
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada, United States

See Tracks? Think Train® Week (formerly Rail Safety Week) is a concentrated week of rail safety education focusing attention on the importance of making safe choices when driving or walking near railroad tracks and trains. First held in the U.S. in 2017, this collaborative effort among Operation Lifesaver Inc., State Operation Lifesaver Programs and rail safety partners across the U.S., Canada and Mexico is now called See Tracks? Think Train® Week throughout the U.S. to better reflect the purpose of this week-long observance: Preventing railroad crossing and trespass incidents across North America and concentrating public attention on the need for rail safety education. OLI offers free See Tracks? Think Train® Week materials – including posters, billboards, a month-long social media calendar filled with assets and more for rail safety partners and supporters to increase awareness about the importance of rail safety education across the country.

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Forest Fires

Wildfire burning near Coquihalla Highway south of Merritt now being held

By Kristen Holliday
Castanet Kamloops
September 15, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

©BCWildfireService

A wildfire that swept across the Coquihalla Highway earlier this month and forced the closure of the major transportation corridor is not expected to grow any further. The BC Wildfire Service updated the status of the Mine Creek wildfire from out of control to being held — meaning the fire is expected to stay within its current perimeter, based on fire fuel and weather conditions. It’s now estimated that the wildfire, burning between Merritt and Hope, grew to 2,904 hectares in size — a little less than an earlier estimate of 3,000 hectares. The cooler temperatures and rainfall seen in recent days have assisted wildland firefighters working to suppress the fire. The BC Wildfire Service said two millimetres of rain fell over parts of the fire on Sunday, which will help temper fire behaviour.

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