Trump says steep tariffs for Canada and Mexico could come as soon as February first. In related news: Trump signs executive orders to pull out of the Paris climate agreement, and reverse Alaska environmental protections. Meanwhile: Canada hopes US will delay tariffs but is ready to strike back; Premier Eby outlines BC’s three-pronged response; and Forest Nova Scotia says tariffs mean job losses.
In Forestry/Wildfire news: insights from Day 2 of the 80th annual Truck Loggers convention include panels titled: Securing the Future for BC’s Forestry Contractors, and Public and Political Influence Strategies; BC learns from California fire response; and Oregon is still scrambling to fund last year’s fire season.
Finally, Los Angeles fire victims turn to prefabricated homes for quick rebuilds.
Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor
The Ontario government is stepping up to protect Ontario workers in the face of potential American tariffs on Canadian goods by investing an additional $100 million in the province’s Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream, bringing the total provincial investment in SDF to $1.5 billion. This investment will support workers in fields including manufacturing, construction, critical mineral extraction and other skilled trades, providing them with the skills and training they need to secure better jobs and bigger paycheques while protecting Ontario’s economy… “The Ontario Forest Industries Association welcomes additional investment in the Skills Development Fund,” said Ian Dunn, President & CEO. “This commitment will help ensure workers in Ontario’s forestry sector—and across the province—are equipped with the skills and training needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive global market. By investing in our forestry workforce, Premier Ford’s government is strengthening our economy and supporting industries that are vital to Ontario’s growth and resilience.”
Toronto, Ont.—Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict has issued a statement on the relationship between Canada and the United States: I wish to congratulate President Donald Trump on his recent election. I also want to make clear to his government, all levels of Canadian governments, and to Ontario First Nations Leadership, that the Chiefs of Ontario will continue to advocate for the rights and interests of all 133 First Nations in Ontario. …President Trump has made threats to Canada, including annexation of the country and coercion through economic force. For First Nations, it echoes the colonial rhetoric that we’ve dealt with for centuries. …Engaging in costly economic confrontations or extracting natural resources cannot come at the expense of First Nations’ inherent and Treaty rights nor our sovereignty. Rather, it must be done in collaboration and with the spirit of reconciliation. There are no natural resources in this country that are not on First Nations’ lands. 
MONTREAL – With wildfires increasing in frequency and severity across Canada — impacting our health, economies, communities and wildlife — the Governments of Canada and Quebec are supporting Canadians and residents of Quebec whose lives and livelihoods are at stake. Natural Resources Canada announced a joint investment of $64 million over three years through the Government of Canada’s Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program – Equipment Fund. This joint investment is supporting Quebec’s efforts to purchase wildfire firefighting equipment, such as vehicles, drones and telecommunications equipment. By buying and upgrading equipment and hiring and training more personnel, Quebec will be better prepared to respond to wildfires and provide support when other regions in Canada experience high fire activity.
A lumber producer in Thessalon, Ont. that has been active for more than seven decades quietly shuttered its operations late last month — resulting in the layoff of roughly 40 employees in the weeks leading up to its impending closure. Midway Lumber Mills Ltd. first notified employees of plans to shut down the mill and lay off its workforce in October of last year, the soon-to-be former chair of USW Local 8748 told SooToday on Monday. “We got nine weeks advance notice that it was going to happen,” said Derrick Bookman, who has worked in a number of roles at the mill over the years. “They went above and beyond.”
OTTAWA — Across the country, the impacts of climate change are becoming more severe and more frequent with extreme events like floods, wildfires and heatwaves on the rise. …Marc G. Serré, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, along with Member of Parliament Viviane Lapointe and Member of Parliament Anthony Rota, announced over $2.7 million in funding for five projects based in northern Ontario under Natural Resources Canada’s 
An American company that controls some large patches of forest northwest of Thunder Bay is considering the potential sale of its timberlands for use as a carbon offset initiative… Wagner Forest Management – based in New Hampshire – owns 195,000 hectares of forest in eight former Abitibi-Consolidated freehold blocks located roughly between the Dog Lake area, Graham and Sioux Lookout. It purchased the blocks from Abitibi in 2005 in a bidding process in which the Ontario government also participated. Last July the company extended an invitation to investors interested in the potential development of its holdings as “one of the largest nature-based carbon removal projects in the Voluntary Carbon Market.”.. Wagner’s forest management practices are currently certified through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
OTTAWA – Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan says dozens of firefighters from Alberta and British Columbia will help fight wildfires in California, and the federal government is co-ordinating efforts with the provinces to deploy resources. Sajjan says in a social media post that 60 firefighters from the two provinces will be deployed as soon as Monday, and that Canadian officials are working to identify and prepare more resources to send in the days ahead. He says in the post that, “Our American friends have asked for help to fight the wildfires in California and Team Canada is responding,” and he concludes with, “Neighbours helping neighbours.” A spokeswoman for Sajjan confirms in an email that Canada has received and approved an official request for help. Alberta announced last week that it is sending up to 40 wildland firefighters with more personnel, waterbombers and contracted night-vision helicopters ready to deploy.