Region Archives: Canada East

The 2024 Ontario forest fire season officially comes to an end on Thursday. This year saw a total of 479 fires reported province-wide, burning nearly 90,000 hectares of forest. Of those, 218 fires were in the northwest, said Chris Marchand, fire information officer with Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services. “Certainly it falls well below the 10-year average, which is about 694 fires,” Marchand said. “If we look to last year, we finished the season with 741 wildland fires, which impacted 441,000 hectares.” “Consistent and widespread spring rains across the province largely reduced our early spring fire danger,” he said. Fire activity did pick up toward the end of the season, thanks to dry conditions from late August to October, Marchand said. “The most active areas that we saw in Ontario in terms of forest fire activity remain, for the most part, in far northwestern Ontario,” said Geoff Coulson, warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada.

Citizens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada are fighting to save a 300-year-old Northern Red Oak tree from being cut down by the owner of its host property. Homeowner Ali Simaga agreed to a deal with the Toronto City Council to sell the property to the city for conservation purposes. The tree dates back to some of the earliest French explorers who settled in Ontario. Standing at a stunning 79 feet (24 meters), the beautiful piece of history and nature is one of the oldest trees in the city. This special oak bears a powerful sentimental heritage from Canadians – It was an important landmark that safely guided thousands of native travelers. According to historian Madeleine McDowell, the tree’s current location was formerly the Humber Valley trail used by Indigenous Canadians and European traders.

After 18 months of work by a consultant, the City of Fredericton can now estimate how many trees it has in its urban core: 19,288. On Monday night, city council adopted a strategy for managing the urban forest on municipal land after commissioning Stantec Consulting in 2022 to come up with a 25-year management plan… “Fredericton is a leader in urban forestry with one of the most impressive and well-managed urban forests in Canada,” the report said… The consultant found that 44 per cent of urban Fredericton has tree canopy cover, while rural areas have almost 70 per cent cover… Stantec recommended increasing annual tree planting to 750 to 1,000 trees.

CHESTER, Nova Scotia — Wood products producer Kyle Millett Logging will receive funding from the Nova Scotia Forestry Innovation Transition Trust to increase production capacity, support sustainable forestry practices and reduce local greenhouse gas emissions at its Chester Grant mill. … “Our business has been part of the Chester Grant community for almost 60 years,” says Kyle Millett, owner of Kyle Millett Logging. “We are loyal to local tree harvesters and are proud to sell most of our wood products here in Nova Scotia. This investment in our business will allow us to modernize key aspects of our mill operations.” …The company will receive $500,000 toward a $526,545 project to upgrade power service at the mill. Converting operations to run on electricity instead of generators will increase the mill’s capacity while reducing energy use and emissions.

Canadians could soon lose access to a unique public collection of fungi that scientists say is crucial for important research, such as developing new drugs to treat antibiotic-resistant pathogens and treatments for fungal diseases emerging in a warmer climate. The public biobank at the UAMH Centre for Global Microfungal Biodiversity at the University of Toronto includes 12,000 strains of fungi collected since 1933, said James Scott, a professor at U of T’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health and director of the centre. “We are really the only biobank in Canada for fungi,” he said. It’s the largest collection of disease-causing fungi in the Western hemisphere, where Canadian researchers from industry, public health labs and colleges and universities can research diseases and their treatments. But it has run out of funding. Unless a government or other funder steps up, the collection will likely be sent overseas. 

Wood products producer Kyle Millett Logging will receive funding from the Nova Scotia Forestry Innovation Transition Trust to increase production capacity, support sustainable forestry practices and reduce local greenhouse gas emissions at its Chester Grant mill. Kyle Millett Logging sources all wood from private woodlot owners within a 50-kilometre radius of the mill. The family-run business is committed to supporting local private landowners while finding markets for its commercial and residential milled products at home in Nova Scotia. …By adopting sustainable business practices, Kyle Millet Logging will have an even greater impact on the local economy. The company will receive $500,000 toward a $526,545 project to upgrade power service at the mill. Converting operations to run on electricity instead of generators will increase the mill’s capacity while reducing energy use and emissions.

Woodland caribou … are in peril. The North American subspecies of reindeer is also at the center of a heated tussle between Ottawa and Quebec. It’s the third time in three years that the a species at risk has been caught between two government orders, underscoring the strain between federal and provincial jurisdiction in environmental protection. “It’s a shame to see this kind of tension between the provincial and federal governments because everyone agrees that it’s up to the provincial government to put in place sufficient measures to ensure adequate protection of biodiversity,” says Marc Bishai, a lawyer with the Quebec Environmental Law Center in Montreal. The responsibility for managing land and wildlife in Canada is a tangled web of legal jurisdiction shared among the federal government, provinces, territories, municipalities and Indigenous peoples. The provinces and territories have primary responsibility within their borders, subject to Aboriginal rights.

Sionaid Eggett

During her time studying in the Forestry program, the Shaw Woods Outdoor Education Centre near Lake Doré was a special place for Sionaid Eggett, who had left a career in early childhood education to pursue her passion for the outdoors. …She enrolled in the program while the pandemic was at its peak in the Fall of 2021. …Eggett graduated from the Forestry program in 2022 and found employment with the Ontario Woodlot Association as a field operations coordinator. …She then took on a leadership role within the Canadian Institute of Forestry, chairing the Algonquin chapter earning her the prestigious James M Kitz award recognizing the outstanding contributions of individuals who are just getting their forestry careers started. Eggett was nominated by a professors in the forestry program, John Pineau, who is now her colleague at the Ontario Woodlot Association, having hired Eggett shortly after she graduated from the program.

It would appear Nova Scotians are changing the way they burn — the province saw its least active wildfire season on record this year, following its most devastating season ever. There were only 83 wildfires across Nova Scotia in the 2024 season, burning about 47.5 hectares of land, slightly more than double the size of the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site. The figures are well below the 10-year average of 185.4 wildfires and 3,277 hectares of land per year, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables… In an effort to prevent wildfires, Nova Scotia increased the fine amount for violating those restrictions to $25,000. Natural Resources took a zero-tolerance approach to enforcement. The department issued 19 fines of $25,000. The RCMP also issued at least two fines equivalent to that amount.

The province of Ontario is providing $64 million to its wildland fire program to support hiring and training of staff, and equipment purchases, but the union representing wildland firefighters says more support is needed. The province announced the funding this week, saying it would be used to “hire and train key personnel and fund the purchase of new support equipment and technology, including fuel systems, tankers, trucks and software systems.” However, Noah Freedman, fire crew leader and local vice-president with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), said the province needs to take further action to ensure fire crews are property staffed. “It’s a very common tactic that the government’s been using, with single investments rather than increase of budgets,” he said. “One thing that we’ve been calling on for quite a long time now is to have our budget increased, and to also reclassify wildland firefighters so that they’re actually recognized as firefighters.”

FORT ERIE, Ontario — The government of Nova Scotia has placed an order for four Airbus H125 helicopters to be used by the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, confirming a full fleet renewal. The aircraft will be used to support rapid response to wildfire fighting, search and rescue, emergency and personnel transportation in remote areas, and aerial surveillance. “Emergencies like wildfires are becoming more and more prevalent because of climate change. That’s why we’re doing all we can to be prepared,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables. The Department previously took delivery of four Airbus H125 in 2016. …Since 1984, Airbus Helicopters has delivered nearly 600 helicopters in Canada.

The Canadian Forest Service is celebrating its 125th anniversary this week. Scientists and other experts at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre invite everyone to celebrate the milestone at their “Branches of Time” event on Oct. 17 from 5:00pm-8:30pm, at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre. The family event includes the opportunity to learn more about the unique history of the Canadian Forest Service, and the work taking place at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre. That work focuses on forest pests, climate change, forest fires, and forest ecosystems – all to better understand our Canadian forests. 

Jason Rasevych

The Anishnawbe Business Professional Association (ABPA) is calling for more Indigenous participation in the forest sector and equal footing for the industry.  At the National Summit on the Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy in Thunder Bay, Jason Rasevych, Director of Waawoono Consultancy and ABPA representative, addressed the critical need for innovation and investment to position Ontario as a leader in the forest bioeconomy. “We need to create a more inclusive and equitable forest sector that recognizes and respects Indigenous rights and knowledge,” said Rasevych. “This includes increasing Indigenous participation in forest management and decision-making for wood supply directives and providing greater access to capital and resources for Indigenous-owned businesses.” The ABPA also called on the Federal Government to increase its funding from $50 million annually to $500 million as a start to scale the opportunities across Canada and re-introduce the strategic partnership initiative funding for this sector.

QUEBEC — The 2024 DEMO International concluded on September 21 after five full days of groundbreaking displays, industry networking, and the latest in forestry innovations. Hosted by SBC Cedar and organized by the Canadian Woodlands Forum, the event marked the successful return of DEMO International, continuing its 55-year legacy as one of the world’s largest live, in-forest equipment demonstrations. With over $150 million in forestry equipment and machines on display from top manufacturers and suppliers internationally, over 6850 attendees had plenty to see and experience along the 3.2 km loop. …As one of the premier forestry events, DEMO International has been a platform for showcasing innovative solutions for more than five decades. The 2024 edition was no exception, highlighting advancements that promise to drive the industry forward for years to come.

The Ontario government gave $700,000 of caribou conservation funding to a forestry industry group that is pushing back on whether habitat loss is a major cause of caribou decline. …The Forest Products Association of Canada received the funding to partner with Lakehead University on a DNA study to estimate the caribou population in the Churchill Range. …Environment and Climate Change Canada’s caribou strategy focuses on the idea — backed by a wealth of evidence — that the main cause of caribou decline is the loss of their habitat, which logging can contribute to. The association has argued the science isn’t so certain and the government’s plans fail to account for other factors like climate change and predators. Association spokesperson Kerry Patterson-Baker said it is involved in caribou research, also putting up its own money, because accurate population estimates are needed if forests in Canada are going to be managed effectively.

Forests … subjected to intensive industrial forestry are the least capable of storing and sequestering carbon. This is the conclusion of a recent study published in Environmental Reviews, which looks at the capacity of Wabanaki-Acadian forests in the Maritime provinces to store carbon, and to sequester it out of the atmosphere. The literature review shows Wabanaki-Acadian forests that are left alone store and sequester the most carbon. …Notably, forests managed for “modern” intensive forestry… fare worst of the three forest management regimes on carbon. …In recent years, forest industry associations have gone to great lengths and spent millions of dollars trying to convince the public that industrial forestry is a force for good in our forests and for the climate. …As for Canada being a leader in sustainable forestry, which is what FPAC and its Forestry For The Future campaign claim, Megan de Graaf of Community Forests International, is skeptical.

Kim Allen

New Brunswick’s forest products industry employs more than 24,000 New Brunswickers and encompasses more than 600 businesses, including small and medium sized and Indigenous-owned businesses. …The forest sector maintains healthy, growing forests that provide fibre, support conservation, and protect species, land, and waters through carefully planned management strategies and responsible operations. …Like other industries and businesses in New Brunswick, the forest sector is pressured by increased costs for electricity, fuel, and taxes, market uncertainties, and workforce challenges that impact the sector’s global competitiveness. Unresolved Aboriginal title claims add further complexity and uncertainty. Our association and its members are committed to reconciliation. Negotiating settlements is an easy campaign promise, but we firmly believe including the forest sector in these discussions and working alongside Indigenous communities is the path to finding solutions that benefit everyone.

Newfoundland and Labrador is taking the lead to establish a world-class Atlantic Wildfire Centre in Central Newfoundland that will strengthen and enhance efforts to protect Atlantic Canada’s communities and forests. Related initiatives will be supported in part through a $32 million cost-shared, four-year investment in partnership with Natural Resources Canada under the Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate: Equipment fund. Located at Gander International Airport, the Centre will provide leadership and expertise in wildfire fighting and prevention, focusing on: Specialized Wildfire Management Expertise; Applied Science and Data Localization; Training and Education Programs; Wildfire Response and Service Delivery; and Wildfire Management and Training Facilities. …Newfoundland and Labrador has the largest forest landscape in Atlantic Canada, with many communities located in the heart of fire-driven ecosystems…. The province has a culture of fire-prevention that has been established for generations and a wealth of experience fighting large wildfires.

HALIFAX, NS – With wildfires increasing in frequency and severity across Canada — impacting our health, economies, communities and wildlife — the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are supporting Canadians and Nova Scotians whose lives and livelihoods are threatened by wildfires. Today, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, with the Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables, announced a joint investment of nearly $30 million over five years under the Government of Canada’s Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate Program (FMWCC) – Equipment Fund and the Resilient Communities through FireSmart (RCF) Program. A joint investment of $25.6 million through the FMWCC – Equipment Fund is supporting Nova Scotia’s efforts to purchase wildfire firefighting equipment…