WHITECOURT, Alberta — The provincial government is investing in an expansion of the Alberta Newsprint Company (ANC) in Whitecourt, Alberta Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration stated on Aug. 13. According to the ministry, more than $1.5 million from the province’s investment and growth fund will go into the project, estimated at nearly $50 million. “This investment supports Alberta Newsprint Company’s continued modernization and helps position our Whitecourt facility for long-term competitiveness,” Mike Putzke, ANC general manager, said. …According to the ministry, the expansion to the ANC Whitecourt facility will allow it to produce various grades of paper, creating 13 permanent, full-time jobs. Additionally, 25 temporary construction jobs will be created, Alberta Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration stated. “I know firsthand the important role this paper mill plays in Whitecourt and Alberta’s forestry sector,” Martin Long, MLA for West Yellowhead and Whitecourt, said.
The City of Prince George is working with several other organizations to support workers and minimize the economic impact of the imminent closure of Northwood Pulp Mill, the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs heard Monday. Deklan Corstanje, the city’s manager of economic development, said the city participated in a meeting of a community transition team made up of representatives from Canfor, several branches of the provincial government, Northern Health, Northern Development Initiative Trust, PacifiCAN, the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, Tano T’enneh Enterprises and more. Those participants have been split into two separate working committees with the city sitting in on both. …The first group is focusing on worker supports and programs offered by the provincial and federal governments. …The other committee, Corstanje said, is working with Canfor to examine the impact of the mill’s closure and mitigate negative effects on both workers and economic development.
Premier David Eby’s statement after speaking in Penticton with evacuees, local leaders and emergency personnel responding to wildfires: Today, I met with people whose lives have been turned upside down by these wildfires. I listened to families forced to leave their homes with little warning. I heard from people waiting anxiously for news about whether they have anything left to return to. And I spoke with business owners worried about their employees and their future. I also met with local mayors, First Nations leadership, firefighters, emergency personnel and community organizations helping people through an incredibly difficult time. The message I heard was clear: These have been devastating days, but people are facing them with strength, determination and a deep commitment to supporting their neighbours. To everyone who has been evacuated, who is under alert, who has lost property or who is living with uncertainty right now: know that you are not facing this alone. 
The U.S. Lumber Coalition repeatedly accuses Canada of subsidizing softwood-lumber production, preserving excess capacity and distorting trade. That argument deserves scrutiny — but it must be applied consistently. The U.S. is hardly subsidy-free. Federal and state governments support forestry and wood manufacturing through grants, tax provisions and public programs. U.S. dairy producers also receive extensive government support. The question is not whether governments support important industries. Both countries do. The questions are which measures are acceptable, who benefits, and who pays. The coalition is not formally proposing Canadian-style supply management. …The coalition wants Canada to reduce production, limit lumber entering the United States and accept a smaller American market share. …Free trade cannot mean open markets for American exports and managed scarcity for American imports. A principle applied in only one direction is not a principle. It is protectionism — a policy that shelters inefficient U.S. companies from healthy competition while steadily eroding affordability, suppressing innovation, restricting opportunity and, ultimately, destroying jobs. [A subscription to the Vancouver Sun may be required for full access]
A Canfor spokesperson recently told the Whitecourt Star that discussions with Fox Creek sawmill staff, some of whom may transition to Whitecourt operations after the Fox Creek mill closes, are “ongoing.” The discussions follow Canadian Forest Products (Canfor)’s announcement at the end of July that the Fox Creek sawmill will permanently close by the late summer. “At this time, we have sufficient fibre supply to support our operations in Alberta, including Whitecourt and Grande Prairie,” Canfor media relations told the Star via email. Canfor confirmed approximately 70 staff members are impacted by the closure of the Fox Creek location, adding that it’s anticipated around 30 per cent will be offered other “opportunities.” These opportunities include roles at Whitecourt operations and other locations, or caretaking work at the Fox Creek site, according to Canfor. …The company stated the Fox Creek mill closure will result in a loss of 120 million board feet of production capacity.
The TLA, together with the ILA, NWLA and MNP is pleased to share the 2026 Timber Harvest Cost Model. This model was developed to provide contractors with reliable data to support contract negotiations and align with government requirements. These rates reflect the required revenues of a contractor who runs a reasonably efficient operation. The BC Timber Harvest Rate Model calculates the hourly rates for equipment used in BC’s forest industry. It is designed to give contractors a baseline rate for a selected piece of equipment, serving as a starting point for setting rates. The inputs used in the calculations for the rate guide have been gathered from contractors, equipment manufacturers, service providers and administrative sources. …In May 2025, the beta version of the model was launched and shared with the BC contractor community. Since then, MNP has been gathering feedback from users to identify enhancements that will help contractors determine appropriate equipment rates.
The Municipality of North Cowichan is asking the provincial government to help fund critical infrastructure projects it says are needed to support the redevelopment of the former Domtar pulp mill site in Crofton and future growth throughout the municipality. In a letter to Premier David Eby, Mayor Rob Douglas outlines several priorities related to the closure of the Crofton mill, including securing the community’s long-term drinking water supply, exploring the use of the site’s wastewater treatment facilities and investing in infrastructure needed to support industrial, commercial and residential development. Douglas said North Cowichan’s primary goal is to see the former mill property remain an industrial employment centre while restoring the stable industrial tax base the municipality relied on during the mill’s decades of operation. The Domtar pulp mill ceased operations earlier this year… prompting discussions about how the strategically located waterfront industrial property can be redeveloped for future growth.
VALEMOUNT, BC — The Valemount Industrial Park sawmill may be only weeks away from exhausting its remaining log supply, raising the prospect of another curtailment and further layoffs unless additional fibre can be secured. The issue at hand is that there are no new logging contracts for the mill. During a lengthy and at times tense board discussion on July 29th, members were told the mill had approximately 15 to 20 operating days of logs left. …The looming end of the log supply means the board may soon face a decision larger than how to measure the mill’s performance. Without a new source of fibre, the board will have to determine whether to curtail operations, reduce costs and wait for market conditions to change, or continue trying to keep the mill operating with help from Industrial Park lease revenue.
A Prince George city councillor is challenging billionaire Jim Pattison to personally hand out final paycheques to workers losing their jobs at Canfor’s Northwood Pulp Mill. Pattison owns the Jim Pattison Group, the majority shareholder in Canfor. …Canfor has closed multiple mills around B.C., impacting hundreds of workers. The latest is 300 people at the Northwood Pulp Mill. At a July news conference, Coun. Brian Skakun — himself a former Canfor employee — said he wanted to see Pattison … personally hand out cheques as the workers leave the job site for the last time. “If Jimmy Pattison really wants to live by his decision, then I would encourage him to come out to these mills when they’re shut down and hand out the last cheques to each employee personally and say, ‘I am sorry for what is going on,'” Skakun said, accusing Canfor of being more concerned about shareholders than communities.
VANCOUVER, BC — Conifex Timber reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026. EBITDA was negative $6.3 million for the quarter compared to EBITDA of negative $7.7 million in the first quarter of 2026 and negative EBITDA of $3.2 million in the second quarter of 2025. Net loss was $9.5 million or the quarter versus a net loss of $9.4 million in the previous quarter and a net loss of $8.3 million in the second quarter of 2025. …Revenues from lumber products were $19.0 million in the second quarter of 2026, representing an increase of 27% from the previous quarter and a decrease of 31% from the second quarter of 2025. … Electricity production contributed revenues of $2.8 million in the second quarter of 2026, $5.2 million in the previous quarter, and $3.6 million in the second quarter of 2025.
VANCOUVER, BC — Western Forest Products reported their second quarter, 2026 result. Q2, 2026 revenue was $239.6 million, compared to $201.5 million in Q1, 2026, and $289.1 million in the second quarter of 2025. …Adjusted EBITDA of $0.4 million in the second quarter of 2026, as compared to $0.5 million in the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter of 2026 included a $2.3 million expense related to share-based compensation due to a 20% increase in the Company’s share price, compared to a $0.3 million expense in the same period last year. Net income was $10.5 million in the second quarter of 2026, as compared to a net loss of $17.4 million for the same period last year. Results in the second quarter of 2026 included a $31.3 million property insurance recovery from our Columbia Vista sawmill. …Both the North American Japanese lumber markets are expected to be relatively stable through most of the third quarter of 2026.
Are you looking to enhance your skills in the lumber and sawmill sector? Onboarding new employees that would benefit from formal education in the field? Are you seeking to provide your employees with essential business skills for professional development? BCIT is currently offering two Associate Certificates to help you: 
The public is invited to give feedback on the timber supply review for the Williams Lake timber supply area (TSA). People can share their thoughts on the Williams Lake TSA discussion paper by submitting comments before Oct. 5, 2026. The discussion paper provides the results of a timber supply analysis and describes the current legal requirements, geography, natural resources and forest management practices. The information will be used by B.C.’s chief forester to determine how much timber can be harvested in the TSA annually, which is known as the allowable annual cut (AAC). Before setting the new AAC, the chief forester will consider input from First Nations, industry and community members. Public feedback is a part of every AAC decision and is an opportunity for communities to provide input, which will be considered during the AAC determination.
The District of 100 Mile House received a candid look at the current and projected timber supply for the 100 Mile House Timber Supply Area last week. On Tuesday, Aug. 11, Kane Copley, a strategic land manager for the Ministry of Forests, attended council’s regular meeting to deliver and explain the results of the 100 Mile House Timber Supply Area Timber Supply Analysis Discussion Paper. Copley said the review was conducted this year and based on information gathered from January to May. In his presentation, Copley outlined that the Ministry of Forests regularly reviews the timber supply for all areas and tree farm licenses throughout the province. These reviews are done to examine the impacts of current legal requirements and forest management practices on the timber supply, environment, economy and social conditions of the local area.
I am tired of the misdirection surrounding B.C.’s wildfire crisis. …We are constantly told this is strictly a global warming issue—a convenient excuse used to tax regular people for fuel consumption and agricultural methane. But the public needs to realize the truth: local industrial forestry has its foot on the gas pedal, directly creating the explosive conditions for these fires by destroying our natural ecosystem. For decades, the logging industry has used chemical spraying—specifically glyphosate—to systematically wipe out native deciduous trees… In the eyes of timber corporations, these plants are just “weeds” competing with commercial conifer lumber. …We are living in an upside-down system where regular citizens are told to fix global emissions, while multibillion-dollar timber giants are legally allowed to spray chemicals that strip the earth of its natural ability to clean the air, process organic waste, and create oxygen and water for us.
New documents show that more than 300,000 acres of land could be transferred to Vancouver Island First Nations, which are currently finalizing treaties. Approximately 30 parcels of Crown land would be given to five First Nations, which are located from Parksville to Victoria. The list includes Hatley Castle, Royal Roads University, waterfront in Victoria, property next to the legislature, Discovery Island Provincial Park and Sooke Mountain Provincial Park. “This is a betrayal of our core democracy here in British Columbia,” Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay said. …Lawyer Geoffrey Moyse spent decades advising the province on Aboriginal law. “There was no requirement to renegotiate the Douglas Treaties, so I think this was a political decision,” he said. Some concerns state that transferred lands would essentially become private property with no legal requirement to preserve public access or adhere to existing zoning.
TORONTO – The Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) is donating $30,000 to support individuals, families and communities evacuated by recent wildfires in British Columbia. Hot and dry conditions across much of British Columbia have contributed to another difficult wildfire season, forcing thousands of people from their homes and creating uncertainty for many communities. The United Steelworkers union (USW) has documented impacts in several communities and in workplaces represented by the union across the province. These include evacuations and evacuation alerts, union members serving on local emergency response teams who are helping to protect their communities and fight fires, members trapped in their homes and some who lost their homes to the flames. The SHF is providing $30,000 to the Canadian Red Cross British Columbia Wildfire Appeal to assist those impacted by the wildfires. 
Fire Lake lies near Garibaldi Park. …Five years ago, the B.C. government earmarked the Fire Lake forest as a priority old-growth logging deferral area. Part of the forest sits in a wildlife habitat area that the government set aside for the endangered northern spotted owl… But none of these designations carried any weight last fall when BC Timber Sales auctioned off about 70 hectares of the forest … for clearcut logging. Joe Foy, a campaigner for the Wilderness Committee, drove along freshly bulldozed roads to shoot photos and video of the forest and document recent logging. …When Foy and his colleague combed through B.C. government websites and maps, they discovered the forest around Fire Lake is far from the only federally designated critical habitat for spotted owls that Premier David Eby’s government has slated for logging. …The government claims it is safeguarding species at risk, Foy said, but “species are literally disappearing as they talk.”
A group of protesters gathered outside B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar’s Langford office Sunday, accusing the provincial government of failing to live up to its commitments to protect old-growth forests. The demonstrators say the province is moving in the wrong direction on old-growth protection and pointed to an increase in old-growth timber being offered through BC Timber Sales. …The protest comes amid an ongoing debate over the future of B.C.’s forestry industry, as the province attempts to balance old-growth protection, First Nations rights and the economic importance of forestry. …The province has previously maintained it is working to protect at-risk old-growth forests while supporting forestry-dependent communities and maintaining a viable industry. …The dispute comes as B.C.’s forestry sector faces significant economic challenges. According to the BC Council of Forest Industries, 21 lumber mills have closed permanently or indefinitely since 2023.
ALBERTA — A multi-year investigation into an unapproved bridge built over the Highwood River by a logging company in critical habitat for a threatened fish species was halted by a federal ministry due to a lack of resources. An internal 2025 document… states Fisheries and Oceans Canada had multiple ongoing investigations into critical habitat being destroyed, but the regulator lacked resources to work on them all. …Highwood River in Kananaskis Country grabbed the regulator’s attention after it learned Spray Lake Sawmills built a bridge over it without federal approval in 2023. …The two-year investigation was halted despite federal staff finding “destruction of critical habitat for bull trout” had happened, during an on-site visit in 2023. Instead, the federal ministry found West Fraser’s work (the company that took over the project from Spray Lake Sawmills) had been “fulfilled to the satisfaction of the (DFO)” after it removed the unapproved bridges and created a remediation plan.
The Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) has expanded eligibility under its Fibre Utilization Funding Program to include Timber Sale Licences. Eligible applicants can now apply for funding to recover biomass from active and approved Timber Sale Licences (TSLs) issued prior to July 31, 2026. Organizations that are new to the program, or that do not currently have FESBC Fibre Utilization funding, are encouraged to review the 2026-27 Fibre Utilization Funding Program Guide and submit an application. Current Fibre Utilization funding recipients may also be able to amend their existing projects to include eligible Timber Sales Licences.
The BC government’s decision to grant a logging company permits to install three gates blocking access to the Walbran Valley’s old-growth forests was almost certain to draw criticism from environmental organizations. …“Blocking access to these places damages the relationship people have to the landscape… which only benefits logging companies,” said Torrance Coste of the Wilderness Committee. …But the gates are much more than just a physical barrier to would-be travellers. They also highlight a divide among environmental organizations and First Nations and the BC government over the future of old-growth forests. …Tsawak-qin is invested in logging Vancouver Island’s increasingly rare old-growth forests, including forests adjacent to and potentially inside the unprotected portion of the Walbran. …Jeff Jones, Elected Chief of the Pacheedaht First Nation, said… “we have two community forest partnerships. We have a sawmill that we benefit from… that creates employment. And we also get the revenues from the partnerships.”
Retreat to the woods and waves of Vancouver Island this fall for the 29th Annual Woodlots BC Conference and AGM in Parksville from October 1-3. This year’s event will be held at the tranquil Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort, located on the traditional lands of the Qualicum and Snaw-Naw-As First Nations. Explore the theme “Woods & Waves: Navigating the Narrative” through coastal field tours followed by a full day of speakers and sessions. This is a fantastic opportunity to combine professional development with a relaxing resort experience. Enjoy the 22-acre forested oceanfront resort featuring 3 kms of sandy beach, the Grotto Spa, indoor pool and on-site restaurant. This year’s theme is Woods & Waves: Navigating the Narrative. Woodlots in BC face unique, shifting challenges—from intense weather events to changing regulations. This theme uses “navigation” as a metaphor, positioning open communication and collective wisdom as the ultimate compass for woodlot managers. Register by the Early Bird deadline on August 31, 2026, for a chance to win your Early Bird registration back. 
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As wildfires burn across Canada and smoke again reaches communities far from the fire line, a harder question is emerging behind the daily evacuation updates and air quality warnings: Is British Columbia doing enough to manage its forests before the next crisis? The question has taken on added political weight as criticism of Canadian wildfire smoke has surfaced south of the border and as politicians debate whether severe fire seasons are primarily a climate problem, a forest management problem or both. Murray Wilson says that framing misses the point if it becomes an excuse for inaction. Wilson, a former forester, discussed wildfire risk, smoke, forest management and the shrinking capacity of the forest sector in an interview with 
In the Okanagan, we have sadly become all too familiar with the smoke and devastation caused by wildfires. Most recently, several wildfires have impacted our region, most notably the Bradley Creek fire, which has threatened parts of the Okanagan Indian Band lands and resulted in the loss of more than 200 homes. It should also be noted that some residents reportedly evacuated before an official evacuation order was in effect, a reminder of how quickly conditions can change when wind and weather shift unexpectedly. …Earlier this year, I discussed many of these issues with retired forester Murray Wilson on my Finding Solutions podcast. Drawing on decades of experience, Mr. Wilson shared his perspective on forest management and how we can better understand and mitigate wildfire risk. …Forest management is undoubtedly important. However, it is also reasonable to expect that more progress can be made in reducing the number of human-caused fires.
Two protesters from the Walbran Valley blockade were sentenced Tuesday, after pleading guilty to breaching an injunction order in November 2025. The order barred protesters from blocking access to the Tsawak-qin Forestry logging site. Twelve protesters were arrested in total. Kenni Apt was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, with 75 hours of community service or a fine of $2,250. They were arrested after attaching themselves to a large wooden cougar statue within the injunction area, intending to block logging activity. Apt says they feel good about their sentence, but they’re sad that they won’t be able to visit the valley any time soon. …Zoey Barak was sentenced to seven days’ jail time. She was arrested after being found in an elevated sling between two trees within the injunction area. The blockade in Walbran Valley was linked to the same organizers behind the Fairy Creek anti-logging blockade on southwest Vancouver Island, which saw thousands arrested in 2021. 
Prolonged drought conditions are forcing British Columbia’s fire tacticians to rethink how they battle blazes in the province’s dry and hot Interior. As huge, destructive blazes spread across the southern Interior, many are burning across land that has already experienced fire over the last decade. In years past, the BC Wildfire Service would expect previous burn scars to slow, or even stop, the progress of a new fire. But this fire season, a prolonged drought has upended that assumption. Firefighters’ experiences could have implications for what British Columbians can expect from fire seasons for years to come. …A burn scar “used to be something we could use as a control line,” Chapman said. Current conditions, though, make those scars untrustworthy. “The fire behaviour can be almost as extreme in some of those old burns, depending on their age and how severe the burn was.”
Timberwolf Wilderness Society is asking for a judicial review in federal court after a permit was provided for a logging operation in Kananaskis Country in an area with threatened bull trout. Timberwolf launched legal action after 
Our Policy, Regulation and Research Department is requesting feedback on sections 4.107 and 4.110–4.118, Harassment and Violence, of the proposed new Part 4.1, Psychological Health and Safety, Harassment and Violence, of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The consultation phase gives stakeholders an opportunity to share feedback before the proposed amendments are taken to public hearing. View the proposed regulatory amendments and information on how to provide feedback. Please provide your feedback by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2026.
As the Bald Ridge wildfire near Summerland, B.C., continues to burn, many are wondering how the blaze spread so quickly. …the Bald Ridge wildfire quickly grew to 50 square kilometres in just three hours after it was first detected. …“It was absolutely shocking to see that fire in Summerland go from an ignition and then spread to a thousand hectares within an hour or so, 5,000 overnight and 10,000 within 24 hours,” Lori Daniels, Centre for Wildfire Coexistence at the University of British Columbia said. …Cliff Chapman with the B.C. Wildfire Service said conditions in that region of British Columbia right now “are explosive.” …The fires across B.C. are occurring at a time when “fires are coming on the shield of prolonged droughts,” according to Daniels. …Daniels believes that, “if we have forest and trees near us now in Canada,” people in the country are “susceptible” to evacuations and wildfire effects.
SUMMERLAND, BC — Kyla Gaudiuso says she found out her home in Faulder, BC, had been destroyed when she received a photo of the ridge where it once stood. The community west of Summerland was one of the first areas overrun by the Bald Range wildfire that has claimed one life and forced more than 20,000 residents around Okanagan Lake to flee. RCMP say an 80-year-old woman died because of the fire as she tried to escape her home in Meadow Valley, west of Summerland, over the weekend. The British Columbia government on Saturday declared a provincial state of emergency and says property losses are significant, though details are scant. …The BC Wildfire Service says the fire is about 136 square kilometres as it burns out of control on the outskirts of Summerland, a community of 12,000 people that has been ordered evacuated. About 10,000 homes are under evacuation order in the Summerland and Peachland area.
VERNON — The devastation stretches for more than a kilometre along the northwest shore of British Columbia’s Okanagan Lake, house after house reduced to scorched and twisted metal and grey dust. The apocalyptic scenes — burned-out cars, still-smouldering ground and homes levelled to their foundations — stand in contrast to the postcard views previously enjoyed by this once-pretty waterfront community on the Okanagan Indian Band’s reserve. But the aftermath of the Bradley Creek wildfire, that was fanned by howling winds as it tore through the area on Saturday, extends far beyond the shoreline, and smoke still billows from behind the community, on a steep, forest-covered ridge. The depths of the destruction go deep into the reserve, where Chief Dan Wilson said on Tuesday that about 230 homes had been destroyed in one of the worst wildfire losses in recent Canadian history. Wilson said 30 homes of band members and 200 non-band homes had burned.