Region Archives: Canada East

ONTARIO — The World Trade Organization’s final report finding in favour of Canada’s softwood lumber industry was applauded by the provincial government. A WTO dispute resolution panel ruled the United States inappropriately applied countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber, according to a 226-page report. Natural Resources and Forestry Minister John Yakabuski and Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Minister Vic Fedeli welcomed the WTO decision that countervailing duties violated the U.S.’s WTO trade obligations. …The ministers said they’ll work with industry and all levels of government to fight unfair duties . “This report is another vindication of what we have been saying for decades,” said Ontario Forest Industries Association President Jamie Lim. …Across the border, the ruling was good news for the U.S. National Assocation of Homebuilders (NAHB). “The WTO report could not have come at a more important time,” said NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke.

Peter DeFazio

OREGON — Congressman Peter DeFazio has blasted the World Trade Organization’s ruling against the U.S. in a dispute over U.S. duties imposed on softwood lumber imports. …DeFazio said “For year’s Southwest Oregon’s timber industry has been forced to compete with Canada’s heavily subsidized industry, putting U.S. businesses at a severe disadvantage”. He said that yet again, the WTO is allowing Canada to use its “…unfair trade practices to shield itself from fair market prices, and putting the profits of multinational corporations, above the interests of American workers”. DeFazio said he is pleased that United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has rejected the ruling. …The release said in May, DeFazio introduced legislation to formally withdraw the United States from the WTO. …DeFazio’s efforts to bring the bill to the floor for a vote, was blocked by House leadership, according to the release.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Steve Rhone, President of Weston Forest, announced today an agreement to purchase Bolton, Ontario-based Monterra Lumber Mills Ltd. Monterra… produce a wide range of high quality lumber products for home centres in Canada and the United States, as well as a diverse range of industrial products for the crating and packaging industry. Monterra will continue to be run by its founder and current President, Claudio Tersigni. Steve Rhone noted, “This acquisition will continue the Weston Forest commitment to growth, to offering innovative solutions to our suppliers and customers, and to providing opportunities for our people. This is an important pillar in our expansion”. The acquisition is targeted to close September 30, 2020.

The Ontario government believes it’s struck the right balance in keeping the province’s forests “healthy for generations to come” while “putting more wood to work” and creating “more good-pay jobs” in the forestry sector. Provincial Natural Resources and Forestry Minister John Yakabuski released a new 10-year forestry plan in Rutherglen, near North Bay, Aug. 20. The plan calls for “maintaining the highest levels” of forest management and environmental stewardship while improving cost competitiveness, promoting innovation, recruiting more people to the sector, and finding new markets. …The nuts and bolts of the strategy go back to the fall of 2018 when a government delegation began travelling province gathering feedback from industry, municipal and First Nation leaders.

NORTH BAY — The Ontario government released Sustainable Growth: Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy, the province’s plan to create jobs and encourage economic growth in the forest industry. The strategy will support the Indigenous, northern and rural communities that depend on the sector, while ensuring the province’s forests stay healthy for generations to come. The announcement was made today by John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. …The fundamental pillar of the strategy is the promotion of stewardship and sustainability, recognizing the importance of keeping Crown forests healthy, diverse, and productive so Ontario’s forest industry can remain viable over the long term. The strategy also focusses on the importance of putting more wood to work, improving cost competitiveness, and fostering innovation, new markets and talent. …An Advisory Committee will be tasked with developing and overseeing an implementation plan.

Jamie Lim

“Forestry matters, forestry matters, forestry matters.” So said Jamie Lim, President and CEO, Ontario Forest Industries Association… at the Ontario government’s release of its Sustainable Growth: Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy at Columbia Forest Products’ Rutherglen plant. “In northern Ontario, we want opportunities for our youth. We want people to stay home. That’s what this strategy is all about,” Lim offered. …The first pillar of the strategy is sustainability and this aligns with the standard practices at Columbia Forest Products, says Ontario Woodlands Manager Dan Bowes.  “As a company, we have a real focus on sustainability, we’re a supporter of the Forest Stewardship Council,” he says. “We want to be sure we are responsibly managing our forest.” Bowes observes the other three pillars of the strategy — cost-competitiveness; putting more wood to work; and, innovation and talent — also mesh with Columbia’s operations. “Talent is another big item for us here. 

John Yakabuski is the provincial minister responsible for the forest sector, and he’s hoping their new strategy will help revitalize the industry. “Yeah, it’s really a historic day for us in the province of Ontario to bring the forest strategy to the finish line. It’s something we’ve been working on since we were elected into government,” he said yesterday, following the announcement. …Ian Dunn at the Ontario Forest Industry Association… “The strategy does set out a vision of Ontario’s forestry sector… “There’s going to be enhanced promotion of the sector. We’re going to be addressing regulatory burden, administrative burden, improving forest management practices, improving cost competitiveness and building the industry of tomorrow”. “As chair of the Ontario Forest Industries Association, I am excited for the future of forestry in Ontario,” said Erik Holmstrom, the timberlands manager for Weyerhaeuser.

FORT FRANCES, Ontario — Rainy River First Nations members will be working to redevelop the idle pulp and paper mill in Fort Frances, through a new partnership with Riversedge Developments. The two parties have announced the creation of the Aazhogan Renewal Partnership. Members of the initiative will be working with Fort Frances’ municipal staff to determine the best use for the former mill properties. …The mill hasn’t been in operation since 2014. Riversedge Developments purchased the former mill property in July, 2019. Part of the deal between Resolute and Riversedge included provisions for Resolute to keep the mill’s wood licence for the Crossroute forest. …“This partnership represents a tremendous opportunity for the entire region,” added Mitch LePage, Asset Manager at Riversedge Developments.

John Yakabuski

…Good jobs in forestry have kept the lights on in communities in the Ottawa Valley for generations. …For many communities in our province — not just in the Ottawa Valley, but throughout northern and rural regions of Ontario — forestry is a lifeline. It’s the difference between prosperity and insolvency. Forestry helps to keep these communities strong and vibrant, providing opportunities for young people close to home. …But the forest sector needs our help to reach its full potential. Investment has been held back for many years by uncertainty and red tape, costing thousands of jobs. For many communities, this uncertainty ripples out beyond the forest sector and into the households of residents who rely on it for their livelihoods. …Our government is committed to strengthening the forest sector in Ontario… Our Forest Sector Strategy has been developed to give forestry operators some much-needed certainty — and give Ontario’s rural and northern communities some much-needed optimism.

EACOM Timber Corporation has been recognized for its work in the Timmins area with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.  The forest products company was one of 16 businesses celebrated during the organization’s annual Nova Business Excellence Awards, broadcast virtually on Aug. 13.  Founded in 1919, the Timmins sawmill processes 550,000 cubic metres of pine, spruce and balsam logs annually, producing 160 million board feet of lumber.  It’s been damaged by fire at least four times in the facility’s history, most recently in 2014, while still recovering from a 2012 blaze that caused $20 million in damage and closed the mill for a year and a half. …In the last decade, the company has invested more than $42 million to modernize the facilities, making technological upgrades and adding state-of-the-art equipment, which have increased performance by 23 per cent while generating energy efficiencies of 30 per cent.

Following the one-week shutdown of the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Mill earlier this month, two of the province’s political leaders say they are excited for the future of the mill after meeting with staff and management.  “Some of the ideas they have are very creative and innovative,” NDP leader Alison Coffin said Friday.  “They are responding to international markets and changing product lines, so I’m very impressed by that … I think there’s a real future here.”  Coffin said she spoke with management of the mill, which employs 285 people, about ideas such as the expansion of the port and a new partnership with the new Forestry Research Hub.  The production shut down at the beginning of August also served as downtime to help restore balance and reduce inventory in what have been unfavourable newsprint market conditions.

Resource industry groups have united to demand the federal government intervene in the ongoing Port of Montreal strike. After a protracted rail strike in November, rail blockades in February, and the ongoing and significant supply chain disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Port of Montreal strike is exacerbating an already stressful situation by bringing the shipping of essential items like minerals, metals, forest products and fuel to a standstill in the region. …“The Port of Montreal is absolutely critical infrastructure to Canada’s forest products sector. We export hundreds of products globally and receive shipments from abroad every single day,” confirmed Derek Nighbor, President and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC). “We estimate that this disruption has already imposed nearly $1 million US dollars in additional costs and lost sales for our sector in Ontario and Quebec…

THUNDER BAY — The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the postponement of a large trade show that was scheduled for Thunder Bay in September. CEN-CAN Resource Expo was supposed to happen at the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition grounds, but will now take place July 7-9, 2021. Organizers describe it as central Canada’s largest-ever resource expo, and say it will attract thousands of participants to the city. The event will bring together stakeholders in Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba’s mining, forestry and energy sectors, showcasing the service and supply sector. Glenn Dredhart, president of show organizer Canadian Trade-Ex, says the decision to postpone was made after a great deal of thought. Dredhart said the event was already 50 per cent booked prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, and even after the pandemic was declared, bookings increased another 10 per cent.

She spoke out once before and, like those on the other side of the Northern Pulp debate, became the target of online and in-person abuse. …“We’re just collateral damage,” said Christine of the 141 laid off Northern Pulp workers who won’t be paid the second half of their severance.Last week, lawyers representing the Nova Scotia government argued, in a British Columbia Supreme Court Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act hearing, that Northern Pulp not be allowed to use interim financing to pay the $1.9 million in severance owing to its laid off employees. “They were the only major party to object,” said Halifax’s Ron Pink, lawyer for Unifor local 440.“The monitor, the company, didn’t object. They were the only ones,” he said….The loss of the severance cost Christine $16,700. [We respect the copyrights of the source publication – full access to this story may require a subscription]

More than a quarter of contractors across Canada say their logging rates have not changed in the past five years. …In comparison, 36% said their rates remained unchanged in CFI‘s 2018 Survey. …In general, contractors in the western provinces have had better success negotiating rates, with those in Alberta coming out on top – 63 per cent of contractors in the province reported an increase in rates, and only nine per cent reported a decrease in 2020. More than half of all contractors in the B.C. Coast and Interior B.C. reported a rate increase – 57 per cent and 53 per cent, respectively. …12 per cent of contractors in Ontario reported rates had decreased by five per cent or less. But 50 per cent reported an increase, while 31 per cent said rates have held steady. …Quebec had the lowest percentage of contractors reporting a decrease in rates at just six per cent, but only 40 per cent reported an increase. …Atlantic Canada has not improved since 2018.