Region Archives: Canada

Special Feature

Lumber demand sees modest seasonal uplift but first-quarter 2025 could be the high-water mark

By Kevin Mason, Managing Director
ERA Forest Products Research
May 5, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, United States

Kevin Mason

In mid-April, the Harvard Joint Centre for Housing Studies (JCHS) released its Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity update, forecasting R&R growth ~+1.6% per quarter between now and Q1/26. This projected growth comes after a modest pullback in R&R spending in 2024 and will be welcomed by North American solid-wood producers given expected declines in demand from new residential construction in the coming quarters. …Recent pricing trends persisted in North American lumber markets over the past month, with S-P-F prices continuing lower while SYP prices moved higher. …A modest seasonal uptick in demand from treaters appears to be one of the catalysts creating SYP price improvement, while the pause on tariffs—the threat of which had previously boosted S-P-F prices—has now precipitated a drop in S-P-F lumber pricing.

As we’ve highlighted exhaustively over the past several months, duties on Canadian lumber exports to the US are scheduled to more than double later this year, and there is still potential for incremental lumber tariffs following a Section 232 investigation (there is the potential for tariffs to extend to panels, etc., but even producers don’t have any clarity). Barring an unlikely spike in lumber demand, many Canadian sawmills are likely to discover that the economics of selling lumber into the US no longer work (unless prices move substantially higher—but that will be driven by closures in Canada). …For Canadian producers, do alternative markets exist, or could a surge in Canadian homebuilding replace some of the lost volumes to the US? In short, there are no easily accessible markets that come close to the size of the US and that can be supplied by Canadian mills.

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Advance Your Career in Wood Processing with BCIT’s Industry-Driven Associate Certificate Programs

BCIT School of Construction and the Environment
May 6, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Professionals working in the lumber and sawmill sector and looking to advance their careers can gain specialized training through BCIT’s Associate Certificate in Industrial Wood Processing, starting June 2025. The IWP program was developed with industry subject matter experts and informed by industry leaders to support upskilling and professional development within the sector. The program is 1-year, delivered online and part-time to allow students to balance work and studies.

What sets the program apart is the expertise behind the scenes—seasoned instructors who bring decades of hands-on experience from across North America. Here’s a look at some of the leading professionals guiding the next generation of wood processing experts: Wayne Horvath – Lumber Fundamentals; Julie Cool – Sawmill Technology; Vahid Nasir – Wood Processing Tools; and Ciprian Pirvu – Quality Control & Kiln Drying.

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Opinion / EdiTOADial

Replacing Canadian lumber imports with US production would take a decade (at least) and cost more than $10 billion: ERA

By Kevin Mason, Managing Director
ERA Forest Products Research
May 5, 2025
Category: Opinion / EdiTOADial
Region: Canada, United States

Kevin Mason

The US administration’s goal is clear: reduce imports and boost domestic manufacturing of wood products. Eliminating lumber imports would require an additional ~14Bbf of US domestic lumber production, representing a 40% increase on current production. …The big challenge in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) is that key infrastructure is missing: logging infrastructure, sawmill infrastructure and human resources. Logging infrastructure would require increasing logging employment, and that has been on a downward slope for decades as young people find other, similarly paid work more attractive. Third-party contractors could provide logging (and permitting) support, but they would face the same problems of scaling up. Harvest restrictions since 1994 have resulted in large-diameter timber now so the logs are no longer an appropriate size for local mills. Also, roads need to be built.

Unlike in the PNW, federal lands in the South have remained active suppliers of timber, along with other willing timber suppliers (including REITs and private landowners). …If the U.S. were to replace all (or the majority) of lumber imports, we would expect to see new supply coming from the South. …Replacing imports would take a decade, at least, and cost more than $10B for sawmills alone (potentially much higher with escalating costs for steel, machinery, etc.). We also highlight challenges, albeit different ones from the PNW. Investment is a big one. In an uncertain global macroeconomic environment, we do not expect to see major capital investment announcements. …Another big challenge is end-market demand from housing activity. If construction materials and labour costs rise meaningfully on tariff and immigration policies, affordability will decline and the near- term rationale for capital investment will be eroded—even if tariffs have forced housing prices higher (i.e., the stagflation scenario).

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Business & Politics

Domtar Unveils Sustainability Targets Through to 2030

By Domtar
Cision Newswire
May 6, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

MONTRÉAL, RICHMOND, BC, and FORT MILL, SC  – Domtar, a leading North American manufacturer of diversified forest products, released its new Sustainability Strategy, a comprehensive plan that aligns the company’s priorities with key sustainability objectives and stakeholder interests.   The Strategy includes performance metrics and benchmarks to track progress through 2030, with a focus on the company’s woodlands and manufacturing operations across Canada and the United States. It will also serve as the framework for Domtar’s first integrated Sustainability Report, covering all three business units (Paper & Packaging, Pulp & Tissue and Wood Products), which will be released later this year. “Domtar has a long history of excellence in sustainability. We said we would maintain the highest levels of environmental stewardship and sustainability performance, and today we’re unveiling how we intend to deliver,” said John D. Williams, Non-Executive Chairman of the Management Board of Domtar.

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Canadian American Business Council CEO says she was ‘heartened’ by comments from Trump-Carney meeting

By Daniel Johnson
BNN Bloomberg Politics
May 6, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Beth Burke

The chief executive officer of the Canadian American Business Council says she is optimistic following the meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump. The highly anticipated meeting took place at the White House Tuesday was the first in-person meeting since the Canadian election, coming amid trade tensions between the two nations. …“I think it’s exactly what we had all hoped for, the beginning of a conversation that brings us back to business. Having a conversation about how we work well together is so important because we’ve done it in all of our history,” Beth Burke, the CEO of the Canadian American Business Council said. …Earlier Tuesday morning, Trump posted a message on Truth Social saying the U.S. doesn’t need “ANYTHING” Canada has, including cars, lumber and energy. Burke said she thinks the U.S. president’s comments on the issue are part of the negotiation.

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Canada’s Carney becomes the latest foreign leader to get the Trump treatment in the Oval Office

By Chris Megerian
The Associated Press
May 6, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

A meeting between the leaders of Canada and the US is not usually considered a high-stakes showdown, but here was newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney making his first visit to the Oval Office to see President Donald Trump, who has spent months musing about turning America’s northern neighbor into the 51st state. …The interaction offered a glimpse into how Trump has transformed Oval Office meetings from brief and bland encounters into precarious affairs. …His approach can be thrilling for supporters and destabilizing for diplomats accustomed to a more deliberative approach to international relations. … It appears that Carney struck the right balance, at least in Trump’s mind. An invitation to the Oval Office has long been the height of international prestige. …Now, they’re raucous episodes in a foreign policy reality show, starring Trump. While the president can be a gracious host, he openly complains about visitors’ countries.

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Trump and Canada’s Carney to hold high-stakes meeting amid tariff war, takeover threat

By Justin Gomez, Michelle Stoddart & Alexandra Hutzler
ABC News
May 6, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Donald Trump & Mark Carney

President Donald Trump and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney meet on Tuesday at the White House for a high-stakes, and possibly tense, meeting amid a tariff trade war between the two neighbors and allies. The two leaders will greet each other at 11:30 a.m. ET and then hold a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office. Carney’s visit comes off the heels of his election win. After his victory, Carney warned Canadians: “Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never, that will never ever happen.” Trump, meanwhile, has taken relentless aim at Canada since returning to office in January. …Trump has said that Canada “wants to make a deal,” while Carney said that they will focus on “trade pressures and the broader future economic and security relationship.” …Trump and Carney’s face-to-face could yield progress on easing tariffs or strain the relationship even further.

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Domtar’s media-shy Indonesian owner plots more growth in Canada, says he’s willing to appear before Parliament

by Nicolas Van Praet
The Globe and Mail
May 4, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

Jackson Widjaja

The foreign industrialist who controls Canada’s biggest pulp-and-paper company says he’s a “big believer” in this country and would welcome the opportunity to appear before Parliament to ease any concerns about his ownership. Jackson Widjaja, an Indonesian, says he launched Paper Excellence Group in Canada in 2006 because the country’s politics and regulatory environment are stable while its resources are “very rich.” And he says he intends to continue to invest here, as he aims to become the continent’s top pulp-and-paper producer. …The quick growth of his business empire has generated significant concern, centring on Paper Excellence’s documented ties to the Widjaja family’s other holdings – specifically Sinar Mas and its subsidiary Asia Pulp and Paper Group (APP). …The company lost its accreditation several years ago with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). …He said he’s confident that his team is doing everything it can to retain its FSC certification. Sustainability is “at the core of our business.” [to access the full story a Globe & Mail subscription is required]

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Mountain View County supports forestry industry’s lobby

By Dan Singleton
The Albertan
May 8, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Brock Mulligan

MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – Following a recent delegation appearance by Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA) and other forestry officials, Mountain View County approved sending a letter of support for the industry to Alberta’s premier. Brock Mulligan, senior vice-president of AFPA appeared as a delegation earlier this spring at county council meeting. Jason Foote, general manager of Sundre Forest Products, was also part of the delegation. “We know there’s some mitigating measures that can be taken, both by the provincial and federal government (in support of the industry),” Milligan said. “We are asking for letters of support from municipalities to push those mitigative measures.” Those mitigating measures could include promoting the use of Alberta wood in construction, promoting market diversification and infrastructure investment, and implement a forestry manufacturing tax credit, he said. 

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B.C. gov’t not expecting immediate deal to end trade war as Carney visits White House

By Sonia Aslam and Jan Schuermann
CityNews Everywhere
May 6, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

A high-stakes meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday is being closely watched by politicians in Victoria. Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing and municipal affairs, said the province is being pragmatic… “We’re not expecting an agreement, and we’re also realistic that any agreement made with President Trump can be changed with a tweet the next day,” Kahlon said Tuesday. …Kahlon says the key for B.C. is to rely on its resources and to increase diversified trade with other countries. …Adding that breaking down interprovincial trade barriers will also help. …Meanwhile, B.C.’s forestry minister, Ravi Parmar, says Carney needs to prioritize B.C’s softwood lumber industry during his talk with Trump. …Western Canadian director for the United Steelworkers, Scott Lunny, tells 1130 NewsRadio that if the goal for the Trump administration is to rewrite the free trade agreement, we should “quit the nonsense and get on with that.”

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Fire being held at Pioneer Log Homes log yard near Williams Lake

By Ruth Lloyd
100 Mile Free Press
May 5, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

Update: The fire in the log yard at Pioneer Log Homes near Williams Lake is being held. Original: Multiple fire crews are on scene at the Pioneer Log Homes of B.C. compound near Williams Lake Monday, May 5. Log decks are on fire on the west side of the property, the main log home building site for the company, which was featured in the Timber Kings reality television show. Partially constructed homes and the construction crane have so far not been impacted by the blaze. …A prescribed burn took place near the compound last week, but firefighters have not yet provided information on the cause of the fire.

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Ontario Investing $1 Billion in Skills Development Fund to Protect Workers

By the Office of the Premier
The Government of Ontario
May 6, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada East

As the next step in its plan to protect Ontario workers in the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty, the provincial government is expanding its Skills Development Fund (SDF) by nearly $1 billion over the next three years, for a total of $2.5 billion. This funding will help train and reskill Ontario workers, including those directly impacted by layoffs resulting from tariffs and ensure they have the necessary support to find good-paying jobs and help strengthen Ontario’s economy. “We’re already seeing the impact of President Trump’s tariffs and the economic uncertainty he has created on Ontario workers,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Today’s announcement of a further $1 billion in SDF funding is just the latest step in our plan to protect Ontario by investing in workers and making sure they have the support they need to succeed, no matter what comes our way.”

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B.C. judge grants Northern Pulp more time to prepare sales process

By Michael Gorman
CBC News
May 2, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

A judge in British Columbia has granted an extension to Northern Pulp’s creditor protection until the middle of July, when lawyers for the company expect to present the court with details of a sales process. Justice Shelley Fitzpatrick granted the company’s request after a short hearing in B.C. Supreme Court on Friday during which a lawyer for Northern Pulp explained that multiple parties have expressed interest in submitting a bid on assets, but there was not enough time to work through negotiations before the May 2 deadline. …Although the parties are moving ahead with the no mill scenario, Williams told the court that officials with the company and the Nova Scotia government are pursuing other funding options that might help achieve the guaranteed rate of return necessary to make the proposed project in Liverpool viable.

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Finance & Economics

Trump talks tough on Canada — while importing more cars, lumber, and oil

By Catherine Baab
The Quartz Daily Brief
May 6, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Fresh trade data shows deepening US reliance on Canadian goods, even as the president claims the opposite. …According to the US Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis, the US goods trade deficit with Canada widened to $4.9 billion in March, up sharply from prior months. The surge was driven by higher imports of Canadian-made cars, crude oil, and finished wood products — the exact categories Trump dismissed. Automotive imports rose by $2.6 billion, including a $2.1 billion spike in passenger vehicles, many of which are assembled in Canada. Oil and lumber purchases also increased, contributing to a 14% month-over-month jump in the broader US trade deficit, which hit a new monthly high of $140.5 billion in March. …The US typically runs a services surplus with Canada, and American firms rely heavily on Canadian supply chains in autos, energy, and materials, as the fresh BEA data suggests.

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Lumber Prices Ease as Uncertainty Settles Despite Prices Settling

By Vincent Salandro
Builder Magazine
May 5, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Uncertainty over international trade barriers has caused significant fluctuations in lumber prices in recent months, according to Keta Kosman, publisher of Madison’s Lumber Reporter. “The whipsaw fatigue of conflicting tariff announcements over two months had Western Canadian suppliers hoping to see the market settle down,” Kosman. …Some stakeholders held off on buying lumber altogether, while others ordered early in hopes of securing delivery ahead of any potential trade restrictions. “Others decidedly switched their purchasing to Southern Yellow Pine from SPF,” Kosman says. …Data from the WWPA indicates US sawmills were running at only 67% of full capacity in January, compared to 72% for the full-year 2024. In Canada, sawmill utilization was 74% of capacity, down just one percentage point compared to the previous year. …“At this time, there is significant lumber supply able to come back online at existing facilities should demand improve into the summer.”

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Lumber futures fell below $550 per thousand board feet, hovering at yearly lows

Trading Economics
May 5, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Lumber futures fell below $550 per thousand board feet, hovering at yearly lows as excess supply from winter restocking collided added to a decline in demand. A 14.2% drop in U.S. single-family housing starts to an annualized 940,000 units in March, pushed new-home inventories to nearly eight months of supply. While a federal directive to raise timber production from public lands by 25% may ease constraints in the long term, the 90-day pause on new reciprocal tariffs has removed near-term urgency for buyers to cover import risks. At the same time, expectations of sharply higher anti-dumping duties on Canadian lumber have prompted mills to hold back supply, further pressuring prices as domestic inventories accumulate and demand remains subdued despite the onset of the spring building season.

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Western Forest Products reports Q1, 2025 net income of $13.8 million

Western Forest Products Inc.
May 6, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, Canada West

VANCOUVER – Western Forest Products reported improved financial results in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to the same period last year. Net income was $13.8 million in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to a net loss of $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2024, and a net loss of $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. …lumber production of 134 million board feet (versus 145 million board feet in Q1 2024); average lumber selling price of $1,533 per mfbm. …North American markets are expected to be volatile due to concerns around the economic impact caused by potential further US tariffs and retaliatory tariffs. The spring building season which typically leads to gains in softwood lumber demand could be more muted. …In Japan, the spring housing demand is stronger than expected and channel inventories have declined. …Demand for our Industrial lumber products in North America are expected to strengthen as supply remains tight across all species.

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Acadian Timber Corp. Reports First Quarter Results

Acadian Timber Corp.
May 7, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, Canada East

Edmundston, NEW BRUNSWICK  – Acadian Timber Corp. reported financial and operating results for the three months ended March 29, 2025. “Regional demand and pricing for our products remained stable during the first quarter of 2025, despite heightened levels of economic uncertainty. However, warm weather and limited contractor availability in Maine impacted our ability to deliver to our customers,” commented Adam Sheparski, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The establishment of our own logging operations in Maine during the first quarter reduces our dependence on external contractors going forward and we look forward to catching up on our planned volumes over the course of the rest of the year.” Acadian generated sales of $24.8 million, compared to $28.8 million in the prior year period. The first quarter of 2024 included $4.9 million in carbon credit sales, while no carbon credit sales occurred in the first quarter of 2025. 

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Stella-Jones reports Q1, 2025 net income of $93 million

Stella-Jones Inc.
May 7, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, Canada East

MONTREAL — Stella-Jones announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2025. Highlights include: Sales of $773 million, relatively unchanged from Q1 2024; Operating income of $143 million, including insurance settlement of $38 million; EBITDA of $179 million, or 23.2% margin; Acquisition post-quarter of a steel transmission structure manufacturer, aligned with strategy to support North American infrastructure. …Eric Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stella-Jones said “Though macroeconomic headwinds continue to impact volume growth, at this stage we remain confident in our ability to achieve our financial objectives. …“The Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Locwel., a leading manufacturer of lattice towers and steel poles for electrical transmission. This transaction marks a step forward in Stella-Jones’ long-term vision, allowing us to enhance our infrastructure offering and establish a presence in the growing steel transmission structure industry.”

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Mark Carney’s bet on prefabricated homes has promise – and big risks

By Erica Alini
The Globe and Mail
May 5, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada

Prime Minister Carney has pledged billions of dollars in financing for makers of prefabricated homes to help end the country’s housing shortage. Experts say the plan is visionary – and laden with risks. Mr. Carney has promised to provide $25-billion in loans and $1-billion in equity financing for companies that largely build homes in factories rather than on construction sites. The federal government will also place bulk orders of prefabricated housing to help jump-start a nascent industry. …It’s a big, bold bet that could make it faster, cheaper and more environmentally friendly to build a chunk of the 3.5 million homes that Canada needs to add by 2030. But factories need sustained demand, a large enough market and streamlined production. That’s what must weave out of the web of housing bureaucracy and hyperlocal rules that currently tangles up residential construction, the experts caution. [to access the full story a Globe and Mail subscription is required]

Related content:

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Forestry

Sustaining Canada’s Forests: A Model for Responsible Management

By Kate Lindsay, Etienne Bélanger, and Darren Sleep
LinkedIn & the Hill Times
May 7, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

Forests are fundamental to Canadians. As “hewers of wood and drawers of water,” forests are as much a part of Canadian DNA as hockey sticks and maple syrup. …Canada harvests a relatively small portion – less than 0.5% – of its forests annually, adhering to sustainable practices. Every hectare harvested is carefully managed to ensure full regeneration, maintaining ecosystems and biodiversity while continuing to support the communities and livelihoods that depend on them. Harvesting takes years of meticulous planning. In fact, before a single tree is cut, forestry companies study and analyze the forest ecosystems before developing and presenting the government and the public with 100 to 200-year plans, repeating the process every ten years with improved information. [The Hill Times requires a subscription for full access to this story]

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Forest Stewardship Council News & Views

Forest Stewardship Council Canada
May 6, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

The May News & Views includes the following headlines: 

  • 5 Things to Know About OECMs in Canadian Forests
  • Public Consultation of FSC-STD-50-001: Requirements for Use of FSC® Trademarks by Certificate Holders
  • Join FSC for webinars on the FSC Principles, Criteria, and Indicators revision
  • New podcast episode out: Demystifying FSC Chain of Custody audits
  • FSC North America at the International Mass Timber Conference

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From Langford to Leadership: Honourable Ravi Parmar’s Journey in B.C. Politics

By Chief Dallas Smith
Rez Dog Walkers
May 6, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Join us live from Penticton as we dive into an engaging conversation with the Honourable Ravi Parmar, the Minister of Forests! In this episode, we explore the exciting changes happening in British Columbia’s forestry sector, including the recent timber review and the ongoing softwood lumber issues. Ravi shares his journey from a young political enthusiast to a minister, reflecting on his experiences with mentors like John Horgan and the importance of building relationships across party lines. We discuss the challenges and opportunities in forestry, the significance of reconciliation, and how First Nations are taking a leading role in resource management. Tune in for insights on the future of forestry in B.C., the importance of community engagement, and the collaborative efforts needed to ensure a sustainable and inclusive approach to resource management. Whether you’re a forestry professional, a community member, or just curious about the political landscape, this episode is for you.

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Sundre council adds voice to forestry advocacy

By Simon Ducatel
The Albertan
May 8, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Forrest Battjes

SUNDRE – The Town of Sundre’s council has agreed to add its voice in support of the forest sector’s advocacy in the face of U.S. tariff threats as well as what the industry considers regulatory hurdles at home. Forrest Battjes, a forestry educator with the Alberta Forest Products Association, presented to council on April 7 during a regular meeting. The association represents companies across the province from High Level down to Crowsnest Pass including operations ranging from pulp and bio-energy to engineered wood products. The sector reportedly supports approximately 30,000 jobs across Alberta and in some communities like Sundre, home to West Fraser ­– Sundre Forest Products, is among the largest local employers. Battjes discussed trade barriers in Alberta’s industry as a whole as well as some proposed solutions to face the challenges. “The stakes are high right now for our industry,” said Battjes.

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Mosaic Seeks Public Input on Responsible Recreation

Mosaic Forest Management
May 1, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

A survey launched by Mosaic Forest Management on May 1st seeks to gather public input on a range of topics related to responsible recreation including illegal dumping, wildfire risks, impacts on wildlife, and gates. Mosaic welcomes responses from those who have camped, cut firewood, or recreated on Mosaic managed land located on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, and from those who may have never done so but have thoughts on outdoor recreation. The eight-minute online survey is open until May 23. Afterward, Mosaic will compile its findings and report back on what the public had to say. “This survey will guide Mosaic’s commitment to responsible forest stewardship—balancing public recreation with environmental protection,” said Steve Mjaaland, Manager of Forest Protection at Mosaic. For anyone interested in sharing their take on responsible recreation, gates and all, visit MosaicForests.com/Survey from now until May 23.

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Students learn to lead on the land in ground-breaking university program

By Sonal Gupta
National Observer
May 6, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Garry Merkel

Canada’s first Indigenous land stewardship degree puts Indigenous law, governance and connection to land at the heart of environmental education. Hayley Toderian, 29, waited two years to enrol. Now, she’s part of the inaugural class in a groundbreaking undergraduate program at the University of British Columbia, the first of its kind. The four-year degree was created in response to growing recognition of the need for Indigenous-led approaches to land management and environmental challenges, land reclamation and environmental policy. …The program, housed within UBC Forestry, goes beyond ecological practices to include the political, legal and ethical frameworks of Indigenous land stewardship. …Garry Merkel, a Tahltan forester and the director of the Centre for Indigenous Land Stewardship at UBC Forestry, said students explore Indigenous systems of land tenure, resource allocation and dispute resolution — frameworks developed and maintained by communities over centuries.

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Forests taking longer to recover from severe ‘megafires’ since 2010

By Orla Dwyer
Carbon Brief
May 5, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

The research, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, finds a “significant increase” in the severity of forest fires from 2001-10 to 2010-21 – especially in western North America, parts of Siberia and south-eastern Australia. It also finds that recovery from large fires has become “more difficult” for forests in recent years, particularly in the boreal forests of the far-northern latitudes.  Furthermore, fewer than one-third of all forests studied recovered successfully within seven years of a “megafire” – a broad term used to refer to extreme fires. A “surprising discovery” was that fire severity had the largest impact on forest recovery – even more than climate change, one of the study authors tells Carbon Brief. One researcher, who was not involved in the study, notes that the findings are “expected, but not previously reported on such a large scale”.

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Walk the Vanier Nature Park Garry Oak Restoration Project

Comox Valley Record
May 6, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Comox Valley Naturalists (CVN) invites the public to a forest of knowledge and a natural urban adventure on Saturday May 17 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. A series of one hour guided walks will take place in the City of Courtenay Vanier Nature Park off Vanier Drive, where a new Garry oak restoration project is underway. This project is being co-managed by CVN and the City of Courtenay. Choose between three walk times that each have a different leader who will share their expertise about Garry oak trees, forest ecosystems and the ongoing work in the park. This project has funding from CVN, the City of Courtenay and Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.

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FREE Mini Conference WildFire Risk Reduction for Golden and Area A

Golden and Area A Firesmart
May 6, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Join us for field site visits on May 13 and an action packed day. Guests are welcome to come to one, some or all of the events listed below!

12:30 to 1:15 PM — Meet at the Golden Civic Centre to Register for Field Site Options. Locations will showcase examples of wildfire risk reduction treatments. Speak to experts about the treatments, the challenges and outcomes.
3:00 to 6:00 PM — Open House Golden Civic Centre. Your local government Firesmart coordinators, Wildfire Risk Reduction practitioners and local businesses will showcase how they are helping to ready Golden and Area A in case of wildfire.
7:00 to 9:00 PM — Speaker’s Panel at the Golden Civic Centre. Landscape Ecologist, Paul Hessburg ; UBC’s Centre for Wildfire Coexistence, Jennifer Baron; Professional Forester Lindsay Hill, of Forsite Consultants; and Superintendent-Cultural and Prescribed Fire Program with the BC Wildfire Service, Fons Raedschelders.

For updates and information – Please visit the Golden and Area A, Community FireSmart Facebook Page

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Calgary continues efforts to plant nearly a million trees, and better balance local canopy

By Andrew Jeffrey
CBC News
May 4, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

After a major influx of federal dollars last fall, Calgary’s efforts to plant more trees continues this spring. Since 2023, Calgary has planted 200,000 trees. Looking further ahead, Calgary, a city of roughly seven million trees, aims to nearly double its urban canopy coverage from 8.25%, as measured in 2022, to 16% by 2060. The local effort was bolstered by nearly $61 million from the federal government last fall. The funding is part of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees program, a national effort to improve urban spaces, provide cleaner air and help the country adapt to climate change. But where Calgary’s new trees will go is a pressing question surrounding this project. …Paul Atkinson, the city’s acting urban forestry lead, said Calgary targets areas with less trees per hectare of public land. Some areas need soil rehabilitation, which can be expensive, while other neighbourhoods weren’t developed with enough space for trees.

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Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

Sustainable Biomass Program Publishes Two Interim Regional Risk Assessments

By Melanie Wedgbury
Sustainable Biomass Program
May 5, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP) has today announced the publication of two Interim Regional Risk Assessments (RRAs), covering British Columbia and Alberta Forests, Canada (available here). These Interim RRAs developed in accordance with the RRA Procedure v2.0, will support Certificate Holders in implementing risk mitigation measures and enable Certification Bodies to certify them until SBP-endorsed RRAs for these regions are available. The publication of these Interim RRAs is a direct outcome of SBP’s Standards Development Process, launched in May 2020, which led to the revision of SBP Standards 1 and 2. This revision necessitated a review of all existing SBP-endorsed RRAs and initiated the development of new ones.

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Forest Fires

BC Wildfire Service air tankers cross U.S.-Canada border to combat Washington wildfire

By Sarah Crookall
Castanet
May 7, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada

BC Wildfire Service air tankers have crossed the border to help combat the Wannacut fire in Washington. In a social media post, BCWS said it was aware of the wildfire approximately 18 kilometres south of Osoyoos, on the south side of the US-Canada border. “At this time, we are supporting with air tanker resources and are in communication with our partners in the U.S.,” BCWS said. BCWS told Castanet one birddog and two air tankers have been deployed to combat the blaze. Winds appear to be pushing smoke from the wildfire north and BCWS said it will be highly visible to communities in the south Okanagan. The Town of Osoyoos and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen Emergency Operations Centre said it is aware of the wildfire and no action is required at this time.

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Wildfire near Fort Nelson River grows to 55 hectares

By Steven Berard
Energetic City
May 6, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

FORT NELSON, B.C. — A holdover fire near Fort Nelson has grown by more than 50 hectares. According to the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) website, the fire – located northwest of the Fort Nelson river – has now burned a total of 55 hectares. The blaze – a holdover wildfire from last year – was initially measured as having burned just 0.5 hectares when it was first rediscovered on Saturday, May 3rd. Despite being a holdover, the BCWS listed it as if it were a new fire due to it becoming more active. It’s currently “out of control,” meaning it’s anticipated to continue spreading. According to BCWS, crews are currently on site to assess whether or not the fire will stay within the area that it burned last year, and firefighters are ready to respond if it does.

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Out-of-control wildfire sparks Sturgeon County to declare local state of emergency

By Nicholas Frew
CBC News
May 4, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

An out-of-control wildfire in Sturgeon County, Alta., has burned down one house, scattered animals and forced residents to standby ready to evacuate. The county issued an evacuation notice Saturday evening, warning residents to prepare to flee in case conditions worsen. Shortly after midnight, the county declared a state of local emergency. “We’re just keeping people safe and trying to protect property,” Mayor Alanna Hnatiw told CBC Radio’s Daybreak Alberta on Sunday. The evacuation notice affects people living around the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area, about 60 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. Late Saturday night, RCMP issued news releases saying officers from multiple departments were responding. Emergency personnel were helping people evacuate, but police didn’t specify how many.

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Evacuations underway due to wildfire in the regional municipality of Garden River

By Jason Kerr
The Prince Albert Daily Herald
May 5, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

Saskatchewan—A few evacuations are taking place and Hwy 55 has been closed in both directions due to a wildfire that started in the west side of the RM of Garden River on Monday. The majority of the fire is in the Nisbet Forest up to Hwy 55, RM of Garden River reeve Ryan Scragg said during a brief interview Monday evening. “(The) conditions are really windy and it’s developing very quickly here,” Scragg said. “Some evacuations have been ordered and they’re being carried out by the RCMP.” Scragg said the conditions are ripe for a fire. Fire bans are in place for the RM of Garden River, the RM of Buckland, and the RM of Prince Albert. The City of Prince Albert has also issued a fire ban for areas within city limits north of the river. Scragg said it was difficult to estimate the number of firefighters they have on scene.

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Uptick in active wildfires is caused by ‘spring dip,’ say B.C. fire officers

Canadian Press in CBC News
May 5, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

The number of wildfires in British Columbia has roughly doubled over the past several days, but an information officer with the BC Wildfire Service says the activity can be attributed to the annual “spring dip.” Amanda Graves says the phenomenon is caused by a decrease in moisture in the needles of coniferous trees. She says it comes shortly after the snow has melted, but before vegetation “begins to get really green.” But Graves says it’s too soon to say whether recent fires are an indicator of what’s to come this wildfire season. The BC Wildfire Service dashboard shows there were 46 active fires as of midday Monday, six of which started in the previous 24 hours and 80 per cent of which were human-caused. Graves noted that B.C. doesn’t typically get much lightning at this time of year, which explains why most fires in the spring are human-caused.

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Wildfire evacuees in Fort St. John, BC, allowed to return home

By Brenna Owen
The Canadian Press in The Chronicle Journal
May 3, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

The City of Fort St. John, B.C., says people evacuated due to a wildfire on the outskirts of the community have been allowed to return home. An update posted to the city’s Facebook page at 8:45 a.m. says the fire in the Fish Creek Community Forest was moving northeast, away from the city. The fire discovered Thursday had prompted evacuations, but the city has since said the fire was not actively threatening any structures. The BC Wildfire Service website lists the fire as burning out of control and spanning 56 hectares as of 1:39 p.m. The service says it has two helicopters and 12 firefighters responding to the blaze alongside others from the local fire department. … The suspected cause of the fire is human activity.

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Extreme danger: Wildfires ignite in forest protection area west of Sundre

The Albertan
May 3, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY, Alberta – Provincial officials elevated the wildfire danger rating to extreme across the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area Saturday after five new wildfires ignited in the area in recent days. Parts of Mountain View County are included in the forest area, namely west of Sundre and Bergen, covering Coal Camp and Bearberry west of Range Road 60 from Township Road 312 to the north boundary of the county. “The wildfire danger is now extreme in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area,” the province said in its May 3 update for the forest protection area. “Dead and dry vegetation continues to be a major concern, as it is highly flammable and provides an easily available fuel source for wildfires.” …On Thursday, two wildfires were discovered in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area while three more were discovered on Friday.

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Several ‘overwintering’ fires are becoming more active in BC’s north

By Nicholas Johansen
Castanet
May 4, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

As conditions across BC continue to warm up, some of the massive wildfires that burned in the province’s north last season are beginning to become active once again. Known as “overwintering fires,” these burn deep underground into the organic matter of the forest floor through the winter months, covered by snow, before resurfacing in the spring time. The BC Wildfire Service says several overwintering fires in Northern B.C. have become more active and are producing smoke. Two of the fires that crews are focusing their efforts on include one along Highway 77, north of Fort Nelson, and another along the Fort Nelson River. “Response officers are assessing whether the fire will stay within last year’s burn area or could spread further.  …These overwintering fires come as crews are also responding to a number of other fires in the northern half of the province.

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‘As bad as it gets’: fire destroyed buildings and homes, Newfoundland residents say

By Alex Kennedy and Abby Cole
CBC News
May 7, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada East

Newfoundland and Labrador — Residents in the community of Small Point-Adam’s Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove have been forced to flee from a raging wildfire that has destroyed buildings and homes. The town issued a state of emergency on Wednesday. It also comes with an evacuation order for residents of Adam’s Cove north of Cave Lane. The RCMP has closed the road between Adam’s Cove and Western Bay… Newfoundland Power also cut electricity in nearby Ochre Pit Cove, Burnt Point and Kingston. …Wildfires cropped up across the Avalon Peninsula throughout Wednesday, the most dangerous of which is in Small Point-Adam’s Cove-Blackhead-Broad Cove in Conception Bay North. Residents of the area who spoke with CBC News described large flames and black smoke that crossed roads. …Earlier in the day, provincial forest fire duty officer Jeff Motty told CBC News the fire is big, very active and out of control — and that homes had been “ignited.”

Additional coverage from CBC’s Elizabeth Whitten: At least 12 homes destroyed as wildfire state of emergency continues in C.B.N.

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