Region Archives: Canada East

ONTARIO — Management of a Crown forest near Geraldton in northwestern Ontario is under the control of an Indigenous and forestry industry partnership company. Ogwiidachiwaning Sustainable Forest Management Inc., a new company overseeing the Kenogami Forestry, has been handed a provincially-issued Enhanced Sustainable Forest Licence. It’s the fourth such licence to be issued under a forest tenure business model developed years ago by the provincial government that allows for direct First Nations participation in the management of Crown forests. The licence is good for 20 years and allows the holder to harvest and use wood along with being given the responsibilities for forest management and planning. …The Kenogami partially feeds AV Terrace Bay Inc.’s pulp mill plus other sawmills in the area.

Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole has joined a chorus of mayors and officials in British Columbia calling for more federal aid as wildfires continue to devastate parts of the province. … The B.C. government has extended the provincial state of emergency until the end of August to better assist wildfire evacuees. The White Rock Lake fire, which already has destroyed dozens of homes, is estimated to be about 782 square kilometres in size… O’Toole sent Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau a letter urging him to send more soldiers to the province to help out, and chiding him for triggering an election during the emergency… In mid-July, the federal government announced up to 350 Canadian Forces personnel would be deployed to B.C. to help. But Merritt Mayor Linda Brown, whose city is on evacuation alert after the July Mountain and Brook Creek fires merged, told CBC News it’s not enough.

An Indigenous community north of Sault Ste. Marie is considering legal action against Domtar and the Ontario government over ongoing contamination that’s in violation of provincial regulations. Michipicoten First Nation Chief Patricia Tangie says contaminated leachate from Domtar’s wood waste disposal site near Chapleau, Ont. has been spreading beyond its permitted zone and into its traditional lands. The site has been closed since 2006. The Ontario government gave Domtar a set of terms surrounding the environmental oversight of nine man-made ‘mounds’ or cells that contain contaminants at the shuttered site. Domtar was directed use ‘impermeable material’ to cap the mounds in order to prevent toxic metals in the water from leaching out. The cells were also supposed to have vegetation and trees on top of them in order to give them stability and prevent erosion. But the First Nation says the cells were never capped properly, causing the contaminated leachate to spread. 

ABITIBI-TÉMISCAMINGUE, QC — The Government of Canada is investing in Indigenous-led development projects across the country to promote new economic opportunities in the forest sector and in their communities. Marc G. Serré, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, on behalf of the Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources, today announced $277,129 to the Lac Simon First Nation to support the expansion of non-timber forest production activities in the region. The investment will help the community increase mushroom production and harvesting while balancing environmental protection with other forest activities.  

AMOS, Quebec — The Government of Canada is investing in Indigenous-led conservation efforts to protect caribou habitat and ensure their continued survival as a crucial part of Canada’s forest ecosystems. Marc G. Serré, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources… announced $218,240 to the Abitibiwinni First Nation to support woodland caribou recovery in the region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue. This project aims to inventory local Indigenous knowledge regarding the Detour and Kesagami woodland caribou populations’ habitat, demography and behaviour in order to support land-use planning decisions. It will also serve as a basis for negotiating impact and benefit agreements with forest and mining industry stakeholders active on the community’s ancestral territory.

Natural Resources Canada announced a $1.7-million investment in FPInnovations to develop and demonstrate hybrid diesel-electric forestry harvesting trucks. The project was announced as part of #EVWeekinCanada in support of green transportation in Canada’s forestry sector. FPInnovations, located in the heart of the West Island, will retrofit two conventional forestry tractor-trailers into electric-hybrid tractor-trailers which will be achieved by equipping two forestry trailers with electric drive axles in order to assist the diesel-powered trucks. …“FPInnovations is committed to developing technologies that increase the competitiveness of our forest industry, and that means creating solutions to our challenges that are good for business and the environment. The hybrid tractor-trailer project is a good example of that, and we’re grateful for the Government of Canada’s support and that of our partners.” Stéphane Renou President and CEO of FPInnovations stated.

KEBAOWEK, QC – Canada’s forest sector is an important source of employment for many Indigenous communities. The Government of Canada is investing in Indigenous-led development projects across the country to promote new economic opportunities in the forest sector and in their communities. The Ministry of Natural Resources announced a $240,000investment to the Kebaowek First Nation to support the expansion of forest sector transportation activities. The investment helped the community secure an additional transportation truck to support training activities, which allowed the community to expand its workforce. …By investing in Indigenous participation in the forest sector, we can advance Indigenous self-determination, close socio-economic gaps and provide greener solutions that tackle climate change and transition toward a low-carbon economy. 

With approximately 680,700 hectares of land burned by about 1,000 fires since April, and 125 fires actively burning, Ontario is experiencing an exceptionally destructive wildfire season. …This season has seen double the 10-year average for number of fires and five times the area burned, and David Phillips, a climatologist with Environment Canada, says the seeds of this scorched spring and summer were sown as far back as last year. …Phillips said trouble was brewing in northwestern Ontario and eastern Manitoba last September, when the region recorded below-average rainfall. …Compounding the lack of rain or snow, Phillips said nine out of the previous 12 months brought above-average temperatures to the region. …According to Natural Resources Canada, lightning strikes account for just under half all forest fires in Canada, while humans cause just over half. …Further, human-caused climate change is creating warmer, dryer, more fire-prone conditions around the world. …Phillips said it all spells trouble for Ontario. 

Forest fires and wildfires now posing concerns in parts of Canada highlight the complicated relationship people have with fire, says the co-author of a new University of Waterloo study that indicates Indigenous fire practices can actually help fight them. The study… looks at Indigenous fire stewardship — setting fires at specific times of the year and locations for various reasons. …The research reviewed other studies and reports, from 1900 to today, on cultural burning by Indigenous people. …The lead author is Kira Hoffman, a recent postdoctoral fellow in the University of Waterloo’s faculty of environment, and now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia’s faculty of forestry and The Bulkley Valley Research Centre. …Hoffman said her next research will focus on why there are barriers to cultural burning in Canada and she’ll “look to other regions where cultural burning is being revitalized.”

The forestry sector calls it the Abitibi River Forest: more than 3 million hectares of land near Cochrane that extend to just south of James Bay and hug the Ontario-Quebec border. …Nearly a decade ago, 492 boreal caribou roamed the area, which forms part of the Kesagami range. Even then, though, the population was classified as “not self-sustaining,”  as its habitat — caribou need large and undisturbed swathes of old coniferous forest or peatland to survive — had been disturbed by both natural and human forces. While it’s unclear how many remain, experts believe their numbers continue to shrink, and the species is considered threatened in the province. Enter the Made in the North Caribou Plan, also known as the Cochrane Plan. It was devised eight years ago by a group made up of environmentalists, forestry representatives, and First Nations.

Maninder Sidhu, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development and Member of Parliament for Brampton East, on behalf of the Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources, announced $1,280,000 to the City of Brampton in support of the Government of Canada’s plan to plant two billion trees over 10 years. This project will see 8,000 trees planted across the region this year and contribute to the rehabilitation of the city’s urban tree canopy. The city will be planting in naturalization sites, along streets, as tableland trees in parks, within boulevards and as community plantings. The Two Billion Trees program continues the Government of Canada’s existing efforts to advance tree planting as an important part of the solution to climate change.

Forests Ontario is heralding a record year for the Cochrane District portion of its 50-million trees program. The CEO of the non-profit organization says more than 300,000 trees were planted on eight sites in the district. Those sites are owned by farmers who no longer use them. “As long as a landowner has got a minimum of a hectare of land available to put trees on – again, open area, not previously treed,” Keen outlines, “the commitments are for them to contact our office to get lined up for next year.” Technical and financial support is offered. Keen adds that there are several potential benefits, including financial. “Certainly people – well, the world – recognizes the importance of trees and forests in fighting climate change and address biodiversity.”

The appearance of green dots on trees in some neighbourhoods in Thunder Bay is a sign they are being guarded against the invasive emerald ash borer rather being marked for removal or even pruning according to the Emerald Ash Borer Services Coordinator for the city.  Robert Scott said the green dots are a way for the city and its contractors to identify which trees have been treated with a bio-pesticide that protects them against the pest.  Scott said not every ash tree is able to be treated and there are some criteria that need to be met.  “Essentially, the tree has to have good structure,” he said. “So no deformities or wounds or existing pathogens. We also look for size as it has to withstand multiple years of drilling into the tree and heal over the wounds.”

ALMA, NB – As part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to address climate change and protect biodiversity, Parks Canada is mobilizing to plant 150,000 trees this summer in up to 18 national parks from coast to coast.  This includes planting 2,500 trees in Fundy National Park this year alone.  Today, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Member of Parliament for Riverview–Moncton–Dieppe along with Corey Clarke, Parks Canada’s Acting Field Unit Superintendent for Fundy National Park, joined the park’s ecological restoration team in Fundy National Park to highlight Canada’s plan to plant two billion trees over the next 10 years. 

In continued partnership with Interfor, Canfor, West Fraser and Tolko, BCIT has launched a new Associate Certificate Program – the Business of Sawmilling. It focuses on educating forest industry workers about essential business skills – helping them grow and advance within their organization and the industry. The pilot cohort of this program was launched in October 2020… The new program builds on the success of the Industrial Wood Processing Program (IWP), established in 2016 by BCIT, designed to develop current employees and expand their knowledge of all aspects of lumber manufacturing. There are now 19 companies across North America that have so far sent more than 280 participants to IWP. Many B.C. forest sector CEOs have a personal connection to BCIT and IWP, with previous versions of the diploma program counting many of today’s industry leaders as graduates, including Ian Fillinger, President and CEO of Interfor, and Don Kayne, CEO of Canfor.

As it runs from the Otish Mountains south to Lac-Saint-Jean, the Péribonka River cuts through a valley in Quebec that is home to old yellow birch, woodland caribou and bald eagles. The valley has been heavily logged for years. Until the mid-1990s, the river was so clogged with timber that canoeing or kayaking was impossible. But for the past decade, local activists and politicians have been trying, in vain, to get the Quebec government to protect an 80-kilometre stretch of forest along the river. …In December, the government announced it was protecting 34 new areas in the province. …Advocates of the Péribonka River valley project, though, were left disappointed yet again. Instead, last month, the Forest Ministry granted permission to two companies to log within the 80-kilometre stretch the activists had been hoping to protect.

Lacey Rose

The forest sector is a great career choice. I feel very fortunate to have spent 15 years in forestry—every day is different, the people are amazing and I get paid to be outside. What’s not to love? When I attended the University of New Brunswick’s forestry program in 2006, about 25% of my classmates were women. In my first few summer forestry jobs, I worked with women and my first mentors were women upon graduation. I didn’t realize there was a gender imbalance until I started working for industry. …Today, there are many success stories for women in Canada’s forest sector. The number of companies and organizations engaging in diversity and inclusion initiatives is remarkable, and the fact that we’re having this conversation is a definite win. But let’s not take the foot off the gas. 

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford and Ontario Premier Doug Ford traveled to Thunder Bay on Wednesday to visit an evacuation site and a fire management centre. …“We haven’t had an extraordinary fire event like this for a very long time and it’s an all-hands on deck approach. …We appreciate the hard work that everyone’s doing,” said Rickford Last week Sol Mamakwa MPP for Kiiwetinoong sent a letter calling on the provincial government to issue a State of Emergency for the province due to the forest fire situation in NWO. MPP Rickford provided clarity of the request for the State of Emergency. “We’re not there yet, there was some confusion on this and I can appreciate that some Indigenous leaders thought that was the right thing to do. We still have considerable capacity to take evacuees.

THUNDER BAY, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler presented a report outlining a First Nation-specific emergency management concept to Ontario Premier Doug Ford during his visit to Thunder Bay. “The issues around emergency management are becoming more critical for First Nations communities. Ontario’s approach is failing, and our communities must have the capacity to manage on their own and be empowered to look after their members. The emergency management concept we have presented outlines this and is the direction the province should be heading in,” said Fiddler. “This is the foundation for action towards a holistic and successful approach to emergency management. As we advance this work, it is vital that our federal and provincial Treaty partners acknowledge the identified issues and gaps and accept the recommendations to develop a successful and culturally appropriate service delivery model that supports and empowers First Nations communities.”

The Cheslatta Carrier Nation (CCN) had their first tree planting session of a four year tree planting plan Tuesday. It’s part of a new contract CCN just received from the Federal government, under the Species at Risk program—an initiative to prevent wildlife species from becoming extinct through various ways of managing and recovering it.  The chosen area for CCN and DWB is around Tweedsmuir Park, says Melissa Steidle, RPF project manager for DWB Consulting Ltd., who has been hired by CCN.  …Chief Corrina Leween said, “Cheslatta Carrier Nation has always been involved in environmental stewardship. We continue to support projects like this that help repair our environment and hope our participation will be a reflection in our global foot print for generations to come.”  Whitebark pine is dubbed a species at risk, and in need of replenishing in B.C., she said.

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