Region Archives: Canada

Special Feature

Navigating the Shifting Landscape of US Tariffs: Robert Mckellar

Kelly McCloskey, Editor
The Tree Frog Forestry News
June 3, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, United States

Robert McKellar

At International Pulp Week, political risk expert Robert McKellar delivered a timely and unconventional keynote that used a real-world policy shift to test a scenario-based approach to geopolitical uncertainty. Titled “Managing Geopolitical Uncertainty and Its Challenges,” the presentation featured a hypothetical pulp company navigating a shifting landscape of US tariffs, culminating in an unexpected twist: a policy reversal on tariffs the day after the analysis was completed. McKellar, Director of Harmattan Risk, emphasized from the outset that his session was not about delivering forecasts or policy advice, but about helping companies become more comfortable working with uncertainty. The tool he introduced—a scenario-based assessment—was less about pinpoint accuracy and more about creating a “living intelligence picture” to guide decisions in real time.

The unique twist, however, was that McKellar’s own process of preparing for the keynote presentation mimicked the very conditions of uncertainty he was seeking to illustrate. As he developed the ‘fictional company’ Thor Wood Pulp AB’s case study throughout late March and early April, the global trade landscape kept shifting. His assessment was finalized on April 8. On April 9, the Trump administration abruptly announced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs. This reversal not only disrupted his planned narrative, but underscored his entire thesis: in volatile times, any analytical framework must remain adaptive, fluid, and responsive. …In a world of rapid political change, pulp producers and global businesses don’t need perfect foresight. What they need is a way to stay balanced, make timely decisions, and keep moving forward—even when the path ahead is constantly shifting.

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Looking Back, Moving Forward: 20 Years of Industry Insights at IPW 2025

Kelly McCloskey, Editor
Tree Frog Forestry News
June 2, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, United States, International

International Pulp Week 2025 opened in Vancouver with a note of celebration and reflection as delegates marked the event’s 20th anniversary. “After decades of being in Montreal in January… we decided to move the event to Vancouver and into the spring and summer months,” said Tim Brown, Vice-President at Numera Analytics. Over the years, Brown noted, the event has drawn participants from more than 50 countries and consistently focused on the industry’s most pressing challenges and opportunities. “It’s an industry that has innovated, adapted, and is one that itself is smarter and more sustainable.” Following Brown’s welcome, he introduced Kevin Mason, Managing Director of ERA Forest Products Research, who returned to the IPW stage to reflect on two decades of transformation in the global pulp sector—and to look ahead.

…Mason highlighting four key developments that have defined the past two decades: “A dramatic rise in demand for market pulp from China… Chinese demand met by massive growth in hardwood capacity in Latin America… hardwood steadily gained share versus softwood… and tissue expanded while printing and writing papers contracted.” Looking ahead, Mason projected the estimated end-use composition of pulp demand in 2040: tissue at 54%, specialty papers at 24%, packaging at 12%, fluff-based products at 7%, and graphic paper at 3%. He also shared a slide titled “Potential Developments Over the Next 20 Years,” listing several scenarios: continued expansion of domestic pulp capacity in China; hardwood gaining further share over softwood (though possibly nearing saturation); and the potential for dramatic growth in specialty papers and packaging—if government policy supports a shift away from plastics.

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Business & Politics

US Lumber Coalition Comments on National Association of Home Builders FoxBusiness Statement

The US Lumber Coalition
June 4, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

The NAHB has a long-established policy priority of working with Canada to promote unfettered access to the US market for unfairly traded Canadian lumber. …In a recent FoxBusiness report highlighting falling lumber prices… CEO of the NAHB, again indicated a desire to ensure continued access to Canadian lumber imports by stating that “we need to make sure that we have a reliable, affordable source of lumber.” “It is no secret that Canada engages in harmful unfair trade practices,” stated Andrew Miller of Stimson Lumber Company, adding “yet NAHB continues to advocate for the importation of injurious unfairly traded Canadian lumber while paying lip service to the idea of fair and balanced trade. …”It is ironic that NAHB and Canada are pushing the theme that US consumers pay for the duties, yet they are spending upwards of $50 million dollars a year fighting against the imposition of antidumping and anti-subsidy duties,” said Zoltan van Heyningen.

Related coverage in Mortgage Professional America: Experts split over lumber market’s role in housing slump

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West Fraser Credit Facility and Term Loan Renewals Increase Liquidity

West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
June 2, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

VANCOUVER, BC — West Fraser Timber announced it has entered into a syndicated credit agreement providing for the renewal of its $1 billion credit facility and extension of the facility’s maturity from July 2028 to May 2030. The renewed credit facility is undrawn and is made available on substantially the same terms and conditions as the Company’s existing credit facility. Additionally, the Company has increased and extended its existing $200 million term loan maturing July 2025. The new term loan is for $300 million and matures May 2028.  “We exited the first quarter of 2025 with more than $1.4 billion of available liquidity, and with this renewed credit facility and expanded term loan we have further strengthened West Fraser’s near-term liquidity and financial flexibility,” said Sean McLaren, President and CEO, West Fraser.

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First Ministers’ statement on building a strong Canadian economy and advancing major projects

Office of the Prime Minister of Canada
June 2, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

“Today, Canada’s First Ministers met in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to build a stronger, more competitive, and more resilient Canadian economy… “This is a first step in implementing a broader set of reforms to overhaul the project assessment process. A significantly improved, streamlined project assessment process is necessary for Canada to grow its economy to become the strongest in the G7 and a global energy superpower. “First Ministers are committed to immediately begin to address project approval and permitting efficiency and timelines for all projects. Premiers welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment to ensuring all federal assessment decisions are rendered within two years, beginning with projects of national interest. First Ministers also agreed to work toward efficiently and effectively implementing ‘one project, one review’ with the goal of a single assessment for all projects, in a manner that respects federal, provincial, and territorial jurisdiction, enhancing co-ordination activities on permitting and eliminating duplication.

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As Liberals push prefab, B.C. researcher touts new construction methods

By Jami Makan
Business in Vancouver
June 4, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

As Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government plans billions in financing for builders of prefabricated homes, one expert says it’s a “significant amount of money” and “a very healthy kick-start” for the industry. The federal government’s Build Canada Homes (BCH) plan promises, among other things, more than $25 billion in financing to “innovative prefabricated home builders in Canada,” according to the Liberals’ website. Ramping up prefabrication could result in cheaper, faster and better-quality homes, said Tony Yang, professor of structural and earthquake engineering at University of British Columbia. “We are building too slowly right now,” he said. “We are lacking skilled workers on site.” The goal of prefab is to shift manufacturing from construction sites, which he called relatively inefficient, onto production lines that operate more quickly through repetition. 

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B.C. port foremen’s union and employers ratify 4-year deal

By Chuck Chiang
The Canadian Press in CBC News
June 4, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

Maritime employers in British Columbia and the union representing port foremen say they have ratified a new four-year collective agreement, after a dispute that saw workers locked out of container terminals last year. The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Ship and Dock Foremen Local 514 said in a joint statement that the new collective agreement extends from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2027. …It is the second major labour deal for Canada’s West Coast ports that will be in place until March 2027, after an earlier agreement with thousands of port workers that was signed in August 2023 following a strike. The details of the new deal with supervisors have not been released, and neither the employers association nor the union representing roughly 700 supervisors immediately responded to requests for comment. They had been without a deal since the last accord expired in March 2023.

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Province, First Nations take next step to grow economy through partnerships, planning, conservation in northwestern B.C.

By Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
Government of British Columbia
June 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

In partnership with the Province, the Tahltan, Taku River Tlingit, Kaska Dena, Gitanyow and Nisga’a Nations are kicking off land-use planning in the northwestern corner of B.C., engaging with industry, community and other partners to implement world-leading land-use plans that will provide greater certainty for investors, First Nations and communities alike. Last week, Premier David Eby outlined government’s vision for building prosperity centred on the pillars of economic growth, reconciliation and conservation in northwestern B.C. The vision includes partnering with First Nations to achieve large-scale conservation and strengthen reconciliation envisioned by the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). …To that end, over the next year, the Province, Tahltan, Taku River Tlingit, Kaska Dena, Gitanyow and Nisga’a Nations will undertake expedited, inclusive land-use planning and essential stakeholder and public engagement. 

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KPMG buys assets of insolvent Victoria tech firm Llamazoo for $1.45M

By Michael John Lo
Sunshine Coast Reporter
June 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

KPMG in Canada has acquired the assets and remaining workers of a Victoria tech firm that went bankrupt and laid off most of its staff last year following a downturn in the tech market. B.C. Supreme Court approved the accounting firm’s $1.45-million purchase of LlamaZOO on May 20. Founded by Charles Lavigne and Kevin Oke in 2014, LlamaZOO provided real-time 3D visualizations for the forestry, mining, and oil and gas industry to map out their projects, cutting down on the amount of travel needed to maintain remote work sites. One of their flagship products, Timberops, was used to plan forest cut blocks and road-survey operations through topographic visualizations. The software, based on a century’s worth of logging operation data, allows users to see what a mountain might look like if the trees on its slopes were logged or kept growing.

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Local MLAs, Teegee weigh in on premier’s trade mission

By Colin Slark
Prince George Citizen
June 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

As Premier David Eby and a British Columbia delegation tours Japan, South Korea and Malaysia, Prince George’s opposition MLAs say the trip is “damage control” for his government’s previous policies as well as the reception to the recently passed bills 14 and 15. Eby and a delegation left for a 10-day trip to Japan, South Korea and Malaysia on Saturday, May 31. One notable absence from the trip is British Columbia Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee, who said in a Friday, May 30 media release that he could not participate in a mission launched by a government that passed legislation trampling First Nations’ rights. Reached by phone on Monday, June 2, Prince George-North Cariboo, Prince George-Valemount and Prince George-Mackenzie Conservative MLAs Sheldon Clare, Rosalyn Bird and Kiel Giddens said the NDP are trying to make up for having closed British Columbia’s independent trade offices in Asia over the last eight years.

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‘We reject your bill:’ First Nations heads urge Quebec to scrap forestry reform bill

By Morgan Lowrie
Canadian Press
June 3, 2025
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

QUÉBEC – Representatives of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador urged a provincial legislature committee on Tuesday to abandon a forestry reform bill that would reserve large swaths of the province’s forests for logging.  AFNQL Chief Francis Verreault-Paul and three other leaders called on the government to work with them to develop a new bill from scratch because they say Bill 97 does not respect First Nations’ ancestral rights. The proposed legislation would divide the province’s public forest land into three zones: conservation zones, multi-purpose zones and forest development zones where the forestry industry is prioritized. …The bill tabled this spring by Natural Resources Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina specifies that activities that “restrict the carrying out of forest development activities” would be prohibited in the development zones, as would the implementation of conservation measures.

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Finance & Economics

Straight talk on tariffs: Brass tacks guidance amid ongoing uncertainty

By Neil Agarwal, Frisco Woodline CEO
The HBS Dealer
June 4, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Uncertainty regarding tariffs continues to challenge companies across industries. It’s a common theme in every conversation I’ve had with fellow business owners lately: How do we plan, price or grow when the rules are constantly shifting? In our case, the lumber industry got a temporary break—framing lumber from Canada, which makes up over 30% of the US market, was exempt from the original tariffs. That’s good news for now, especially for residential construction. But there’s still no clarity on imports from other key countries like Brazil and China, where tariffs remain in full effect. That could have a serious impact on specialty products like Ipe and hardwood veneers. Other building materials—fasteners, finishes, flooring, and more—are also caught in the middle. …That cost will be passed on to the end user. Businesses like ours don’t have the luxury of absorbing increased costs indefinitely. If we did, we’d be out of business.

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LBM Dealers comment on how lumber and other materials sold will be impacted by tariffs

The LBM Journal
June 4, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

There has been a lot of news recently on higher tariffs between the U.S. and its trading partners, including Canada and Mexico. One concern that is top of mind for many LBM dealers is how these new tariffs will affect lumber and other materials sold at yards and stores across the country. How concerned should I be and what action, if any, can I take to protect my business? Responses from lumberyards, full-line building material dealers, and specialty dealers/distributors:

  • Stock up heavy now and ride the wave. Things will straighten up.
  • Keep a sharp eye on inventory levels and don’t make any rash moves. Steady as she goes!
  • When the tariff goes on, adjust your prices that same day.
  • Don’t quote too far in the future. Quote only subject to tariffs.
  • Communicate with customers and suppliers regularly. Keep things transparent when possible.

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Bank of Canada holds policy rate at 2.75%

The Bank of Canada
June 4, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada

The Bank of Canada today maintained its target for the overnight rate at 2.75%, with the Bank Rate at 3% and the deposit rate at 2.70%. Since the April Monetary Policy Report, the US administration has continued to increase and decrease various tariffs. China and the US have stepped back from extremely high tariffs and bilateral trade negotiations have begun with a number of countries. However, the outcomes of these negotiations are highly uncertain, tariff rates are well above their levels at the beginning of 2025, and new trade actions are still being threatened. Uncertainty remains high. While the global economy has shown resilience in recent months, this partly reflects a temporary surge in activity to get ahead of tariffs. …In Canada, economic growth in the first quarter came in at 2.2%. …CPI inflation eased to 1.7% in April. …Excluding taxes, inflation rose 2.3% in April.

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US growth forecast cut sharply by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as Trump tariffs sour global outlook

By Sophie Kiderlin
CNBC News
June 3, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States, International

Economic growth forecasts for the US and globally were cut further by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OEDC) as President Trump’s tariff turmoil weighs on expectations. The US growth outlook was downwardly revised to just 1.6% this year and 1.5% in 2026. In March, the OECD was still expecting a 2.2% expansion in 2025. The fallout from Trump’s tariff policy, elevated economic policy uncertainty, a slowdown of net immigration and a smaller federal workforce were cited as reasons for the latest downgrade. Global growth, meanwhile, is also expected to be lower than previously forecast, with the OECD saying that “the slowdown is concentrated in the United States, Canada and Mexico”. “Global GDP growth is projected to slow from 3.3% in 2024 to 2.9% this year and in 2026. It had previously forecast global growth of 3.1% this year and 3% in 2026. …The OECD adjusted its inflation forecast, saying “higher trade costs will also push up inflation.”

Related news in the Financial Post: Canada to take brunt of one of the worst slowdowns since the pandemic, warns OECD

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Fight over lumber tariffs could reshape future of US home building

By Aislinn Murphy
Fox Business News
June 2, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

Lumber is in the spotlight as the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the US Lumber Coalition disagree over what’s behind the U.S. housing market slump. The NAHB has pointed to tariff uncertainty and lumber prices as being partly responsible. The US’s current anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duty on imported Canadian softwood lumber stands at 14.5%. It could potentially climb later in the year to nearly 35%. “I share President Trump’s desire to create fair and balanced trade across our borders, certainly would bring back as much production as we can,” NAHB CEO Jim Tobin said. “But until we do that, and it will take years and millions of dollars of investment, we need to make sure that we have a reliable, affordable source of lumber.” …The US Lumber Coalition has also been critical of Canada, saying that “ongoing unfair trade practices” by its lumber industry have been “extremely harmful to US lumber producers.”

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If a Tree Falls in the Forest: Softwood Lumber Trade

By Sean Steuart, Kasia Trzaski Kopytek, Chris Krueger
TD Securities
June 2, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

For Canadian lumber producers, US market access restrictions are a long-term reality. We expect increasing duty rates plus an incremental tariff will be applied to Canadian lumber imports by the third quarter of 2025 (Q3/25). …Short-term hurdles are notable (demand headwinds, rising US duties, and expected incremental tariffs) but for some companies, we believe that recent valuation contractions discount excessive risk. …A mutual lumber trade agreement between Canada and the US is not expected in the near- to medium-term but is more likely in five years. …We include an incremental US 25% tariff applied to Canadian lumber imports (Section 232 investigation) starting Q3/25 in addition to cumulative countervailing duties (CVD)/anti-dumping duties (ADD) collection rates expected to rise to almost 35% for most sawmills by mid-Q3/25. For the average Canadian sawmill, we estimate that Canadian lumber prices would need to rise 30% from current levels to pass on the increase to duty deposit rates plus the incremental tariff to customers.

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RBC forecasts further declines in lumber and OSB prices

Investing.com
June 3, 2025
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, United States

On Monday, RBC analysts reported a decrease in the prices of lumber and oriented strand board (OSB) over the past week. The Framing Lumber Composite price fell by $4 to $438, while the OSB Composite price dropped by $7 to $282, according to Random Lengths data. These price movements are particularly relevant for building materials companies like AZEK, a significant player with a $7.17 billion market capitalization and strong 37.22% gross margins. RBC Elements, in collaboration with its in-house data science team, developed a multi-variable time series model to project future price movements. This model estimates that the Framing Lumber Composite will decrease by an additional $1 to $437 in the coming week. Similarly, the OSB Composite is forecasted to decline by $5 to $277 next week, based on the same predictive model. These projections are part of RBC’s ongoing analysis of the paper, packaging, and forest product sectors.

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Built Green Canada Declares June 4 National Green Building Day

Built Green Canada
June 4, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada

EDMONTON, AB – In conjunction with National Environment Week, Built Green Canada encourages the building sector and municipalities to recognize the first Wednesday of June (June 4) National Green Building Day. The intention is to raise awareness and support for sustainable building practices—recognizing industry leaders already doing so and encouraging others who aren’t as far along in their journey. Built Green Canada celebrates those building more sustainably and encourages others in the industry, including trades, consultants, contractors and the media that profile them, as well as municipalities, to recognize those building beyond code. For sustainable builders, and their supporters, this is an opportunity to spotlight your efforts and how these benefit homebuyers and the environment, while also setting a standard that helps progress industry. Your leadership deserves recognition. For municipalities committed to encouraging more sustainable communities, this is an occasion to recognize local leaders and strengthen your relationship with them. 

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Canada Wood Market Insights – June 2025

Canada Wood Group
June 3, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada

Read these stories and more in the June newsletter:

  • Canada Wood Japan’s Narrow Shear Wall R&D Project has successfully tested a 300 mm-wide shear wall prototype with a performance multiplier of 7, meeting the maximum allowed under Japan’s revised Building Standard Law. It is one of the narrowest yet structurally efficient systems under development for residential use in Japan’s urban housing market.
  • Canada Wood Japan hosted B.C. Chief Forester Shane Berg, for a series of meetings with Japanese government officials, industry partners, and media. The visit highlighted B.C.’s climate resilience strategies and reaffirmed the importance of the Japanese market for Canadian forest products.
  • Canada Wood led a video project in Alberta, with support from the Alberta government, to highlight the journey of SPF lumber and OSB from forest to export. Filmed at Weyerhaeuser, West Fraser, and Canfor mills—the videos will promote Canada’s sustainable wood practices to Japanese customers and industry partners.

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Vancouver Island mass timber home shows potential of green building tech

By Marc Kitteringham
Oak Bay News
June 3, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

Tom Grimmer

Just over a month ago, the spot where Tom Grimmer is standing was little more than an empty lot. Construction crews had cleared the land, built the foundation and laid the groundwork for what was to come, but for the most part, it was empty; he explained this as he went up the stairs onto the second floor. …The house, since there is indeed most of a house there now, was dropped off in six containers in late April and has been subsequently assembled into what it is now. “The first panels landed a month ago,” he said. “It’ll be done pretty soon.” …This, according to Grimmer, is the only mass timber passive house on Vancouver Island. Grimmer isn’t new to passive homes. …While there are mass timber facilities in Canada and B.C., they are more geared towards institutional and commercial buildings.

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Forestry

Trees may be able to help us predict volcanic eruptions

By Cheryl Santa Maria
The Weather Network
June 4, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, United States

Eruptions can’t be prevented, so scientists have focused on improving early detection technologies. New work being done by NASA and the Smithsonian Institution builds upon the existing knowledge that changes in tree leaves can signify a volcanic eruption. Magma releases carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and other gases as it ascends. Nearby trees absorb the carbon dioxide and become greener and more lush in response. According to the new research, these changes are detectable from space. The greener foliage can be read by NASA satellites like Landsat 8, as well as airborne instruments from the Airborne Validation Unified Experiment: Land to Ocean (AVUELO). There are roughly 1350 active volcanoes in the world, many of them in remote or hard-to-navigate terrain. Volcanic carbon dioxide is difficult to detect remotely. Scientists often have to travel to volcanoes to take direct measurements, which is a difficult and sometimes hazardous assignment.

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Data capturing hot spots and burned acres show Canada wildfire season off to wild start

By M. K. Wildeman
Victoria Times Colonist
June 4, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

While images of wildfires capture their ferocity, data can provide insight into how bad a fire season is. Such is the case with two graphics, powered by satellite data, that showcase a Canadian wildfire season off to a wild — and scary — start. Twice a day a NASA satellite sends images to the ground, giving a real-time view of where fires are burning. This is especially useful for remote areas where no sensors are stationed. As of Tuesday that satellite had picked up four times as many fire hot spots across Canada than is typical for early June. Based on data from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, about 200 fires are actively burning in Canada and have consumed about 7,700 square miles (19,900 square kilometers) of terrain, most of it in the last week.

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2025 Ontario Envirothon champions crowned

Forests Canada
June 4, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

Barrie, Ontario – This spring, 460 students representing 92 five-member teams from across Ontario took part in regional Envirothon workshops and competitions, a team from University of Toronto Schools was crowned as 2025 Ontario Envirothon Champions on May 28. The provincial Envirothon was held at the University of Waterloo from May 25 to 28 and featured 85 students from 17 teams competing to represent Ontario at the National Conservation Foundation (NCF)-Envirothon in Calgary, Alberta this July. “Envirothon is exciting for Forests Canada, and for the students who are gaining a deeper appreciation for nature and honing their STEM skills,” Jess Kaknevicius, CEO, Forests Canada, says. “I impressed by the knowledge and exuberance of this year’s students but also the selflessness and dedication of all the volunteers, teachers and sponsors who make Ontario Envirothon possible.” Ontario Envirothon is an environmentally-themed academic competition that immerses students in hands-on learning and discovery while building STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills.

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News & Views from the Forest Stewardship Council Canada

Forest Stewardship Council Canada
June 5, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

This month’s news includes:

  • The Forest Stewardship Council Canada is proud to announce that FSC-certified products are now officially featured in Amazon Canada’s Climate Pledge Friendly program.
  • In May 2025, members of the Forest Stewardship Council Canada Board of Directors visited South Nation Conservation (SNC) in Eastern Ontario to recognize SNC’s leadership in sustainable forest management, Indigenous collaboration, and climate resilience.
  • FSC Canada is pleased to welcome Karen Kaizer as the new Director of Marketing and Stacey Thompson-Marcial as Operations Manager.
  • Honoring Indigenous Leadership and Stewardship at Earth Week: Reflections from Menominee Territory
  • FSC Canada is inviting forest managers, Indigenous communities, smallholders, and certificate holders to participate in its new Forests as Climate Solutions pilot projects, launching July 1, 2025.
  • Registration is open for FSC FOREST WEEK 2025 – Be part of this global campaign to help raise awareness about the importance of responsible forestry.

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West Fraser donates 1,200 trees to 108 Mile Ranch Greenbelt Commission

By Patrick Davies
Coast Mountain News
June 4, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Following fire mitigation efforts in and around the 108 Mile Ranch, a new generation of trees have been planted to restore the land. West Fraser 100 Mile donated 1,200 trees that were planted by treeplanters from Zanzibar Holdings Ltd. on behalf of the 108 Mile Ranch Greenbelt Commission. Greenbelt commissioner Chris Betuzzi said it’s all part of the commission’s work to secure the 108 Mile Ranch against future fire seasons and avoid a repeat of the 2017 Gustafsen fire, which burned parts of Walker Valley. As a registered forest technologist, he said helping manage the forest is a responsibility close to his heart. In May of 2024, Betuzzi said they carried out fire mitigation efforts in three areas along the Greenbelt, including Donsleequa Road, Qua Place and Gloinnzum Drive to reduce forest fuel in the event of a wildfire. Betuzzi said they had Tsi Del Del Enterprises Ltd come up to process the slash piles and fibre.

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Forest Practices Board to audit Interfor’s forestry operations near Castlegar

BC Forest Practices Board
June 2, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will audit the forestry planning and practices of Interfor Corporation on Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 3, starting Monday, June 9, 2025. TFL 3 is located within the Selkirk Natural Resource District, about 40 kilometres north of Castlegar, near Slocan. The licence area covers approximately 78,000 hectares of public land, with an annual allowable cut of approximately 80,000 cubic metres, and is managed by Interfor’s Castlegar division. …The audit will examine whether forestry activities carried out between June 1, 2023, and June 13, 2025, comply with the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act. Activities subject to audit include timber harvesting, road and bridge construction and maintenance, silviculture, wildfire protection and related operational planning. …Once the audit is complete, a report will be prepared. Any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board’s final report and recommendations will be released to the public and provincial government.

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Edmonton braces for pest that has decimated ash tree populations to east, west

By Jackie Carmichael
Edmonton Journal
June 2, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Traps are expected to go up around Edmonton this week to capture the emerald ash borer. The shining and dangerous pest is poised to wreak havoc on Edmonton’s $400-million population of ash trees, and the city has two staffers working full time to detect any advance here as the invasive bug closes in from the west or east into Alberta. “We have the largest percentage of our urban forest canopy in green ash of almost any city in North America,” said Michael Jenkins, senior scientist with the City of Edmonton. Ranging from 8.5 mm to 14 mm long and 3.1 mm to 3.4 mm wide, the beetle is difficult to spot. “A single piece of firewood can destroy millions of trees,” warns a poster depicting a stack of ash firewood as dynamite sticks with an emerald ash borer at the tip of the fuse.

Related content:

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Launching Your Community Fireguard Project

Silvacom Ltd.
June 3, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Is your community prepared for the rising risk of wildfires? Join wildfire mitigation experts from Silvacom for an insightful webinar on launching effective Community Fireguard projects. This session is designed to equip you with the knowledge to protect people, infrastructure, and vital ecosystems. Learn how Fireguards serve as a critical front-line defense and understand the comprehensive process from initial concept to successful construction. Municipal Leaders, First Nations Representatives, Planners and Land Managers, and people involved in community wildfire preparedness and mitigation in Alberta are encouraged to attend. Highlights: 

  • Understanding fireguards and their effectiveness in reducing wildfire spread. 
  • Comprehensive guidance on planning, permitting, and constructing a fireguard. 
  • Strategies for addressing regulatory processes and fostering community engagement. 
  • Real-world case studies from municipalities and First Nations across Alberta. 
  • How Silvacom can assist your organization at every stage – from planning to implementation. 
  • Engage directly with environmental professionals and get your questions answered. 

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The fight for B.C.’s old growth comes to Victoria’s silver screens

By Evan Lindsay
Victoria News
June 2, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

From the front lines of Fairy Creek to the silver screen comes a new documentary capturing the fight for B.C.’s old-growth. Fairy Creek is a new documentary from Jen Muranetz, an award-winning documentary filmmaker and visual storyteller based out of Vancouver, B.C. The film tells the story of the Fairy Creek blockade protests, which made headlines nationwide as one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in Canadian History. “With unique insider access and use of in-the-trenches cinema vérité, Fairy Creek offers an intimate, fly-on-the-wall view of collective resistance,” said Nicole Trask, of Pender PR.  “Viewers are brought into the throes of this complex standoff, where blockaders form barriers with their bodies and tree-sitters’ forest canopies are assailed by police officers deployed from helicopters.” Murantez tells the story from the frontlines, presenting an “intimate, fly-on-the-wall” view of the resistance – from the retaliation of forestry workers, to rising tensions and arrests.

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Quesnel hosts Future of Forestry Think Tank

Quesnel Cariboo Observer
May 30, 2025
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

After two devastating wildfire seasons in a row, 2017 and 2018, the Quesnel Future of Forestry Thank Tank was created as a community-led opportunity to discuss challenges and opportunities in the area’s forest landscape, manufacturing sector and workforce. The think tank’s goal is to rethink the regional forest sector and revitalize the region’s ecosystems and economy linked to forests. The 2025 theme was “accelerating change” and saw over 50 delegates from the city, First Nations, academia, the industry and more  to discuss forestry. …The Quesnel Future of Forestry Think Tank investigates: How to restore regional forest ecosystem to a state of resiliency and adaptability that will stop large scale pest infestations and wildfires from recurring? How to reinvent manufacturing facilities in the region be to address the decline in sawlog availability and non-sawlog commercial forest fibre? Training to ensure the local workforce is employed in good paying jobs in the City and in the surrounding forests?

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Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

Register Now: Wood Pellet Association of Canada’s Annual Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia!

The Wood Pellet Association of Canada
June 4, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada

Join us in Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 23-24, 2025 for Biomass for a Low-Carbon Future. As the world moves toward a low-carbon future, biomass and wood pellets play a key role in ensuring Canada has renewable and responsible energy. Join us to explore the numerous opportunities biomass presents, from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to supporting economic growth in the transition to a net-zero economy. Who Should Attend? Anyone interested in advancing electrification, including pellet producers, customers, First Nations and government officials, policymakers, regulators at every level, researchers, safety specialists, logistics personnel and equipment manufacturers.

Hear from experts around the world on key topics including:

  • Bioheat opportunities for Canada
  • Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage in action
  • Biomass’ role in reducing emissions in hard-to-abate industries and existing heat and power generation systems
  • Decarbonizing transportation with bioenergy innovations
  • Detecting, preventing and surviving self-heating in biomass storage

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BC climate action has reduced emissions, with economic success

By Mark Zacharias (SFU) & Rachel Doran (Clean Energy Canada)
Business in Vancouver
June 1, 2025
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: Canada, Canada West

Seventeen years on and the evidence is clear: B.C. has moved the needle on emissions. While the province’s population has grown 25% over this period, carbon emissions between 2008 and 2023 are down almost 5% — or nearly 7% if you measure from 2018, when CleanBC was announced. …BC’s industrial sectors, spurred by provincial regulation and investments, have done much of the heavy lifting. Heavy industries, including mining, smelting, pulp and paper, cement, steel, gypsum, and chemicals and fertilizers have seen emission declines of 16% over this period, while oil and gas production emissions are down 30%. …Admittedly, not everything is good news. The province is not on track to meet its 2030 climate target, and many CleanBC policies — including the oil and gas emissions cap, capping emissions from natural gas utilities and the clean transportation action plan — remain incomplete. …BC has announced a review of its CleanBC plan to be completed this fall. 

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Health & Safety

American and Canadian Lung Associations Again Join Forces to Reduce the Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke

By Canadian Lung Association
Cision Newswire
June 3, 2025
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada, United States

CHICAGO and OTTAWA, ON – As devastating wildfires continue to increase throughout North America, the American and Canadian Lung Associations are collaborating for a second year to raise awareness about the health risks associated with wildfire smoke, educate people on how to protect themselves, and promote strategies to mitigate the occurrence of catastrophic wildfires. …To protect residents in both countries from the harmful health impacts of wildfires, the American Lung Association and the Canadian Lung Association are once again working together, concentrating their efforts on three key areas: awareness, education and advocacy.

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Man drowns after machinery falls into ocean at Crofton pulp mill

By Jeff Bell
Victoria Times Colonist
June 5, 2025
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada West

North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP are investigating the drowning of a machinery operator in an industrial incident at the Crofton pulp mill on Wednesday. Police responded about noon to the Catalyst Pulp and Paper Mill after receiving a report that a piece of heavy equipment had fallen into the ocean with its operator trapped inside. Canadian Coast Guard divers attempted a rescue, but the 30-year-old man could not be revived. RCMP spokesperson Alex Bérubé said the B.C. Coroners Service and WorkSafeBC are both investigating what led to “this tragic outcome.”

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Forest Fires

Canadian fire smoke threatens air quality in Canada, US as it reaches Europe

France 24
June 4, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, International

Canada’s wildfires have forced evacuations of more than 26,000 people and continue to spread with heavy smoke choking millions of Canadians and Americans and reaching as far away as Europe. Hazardous air quality alerts were issued for parts of Canada and the neighbouring United States. A water tanker air base was consumed by flames in Saskatchewan province, oil production has been disrupted in Alberta, and more communities are threatened each day. “We have some challenging days ahead of us,” said Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, adding that the number of evacuees could rise quickly. …Heavy smoke has engulfed part of the continent, forcing residents of four Canadian provinces and the US states of Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin to limit outdoor activities. …Elsewhere, extensive forest fires have been raging in Russia’s Far Eastern Federal District since early April, generating carbon emissions of around 35 million tons, Copernicus reported.

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About 15,000 have fled Saskatchewan wildfires and more coming: Premier Moe

Canadian Press in Global News
June 3, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

PRINCE ALBERT – As Manitoba grapples with wildfires that have forced more than 17,000 people from their homes, the premier of Saskatchewan said Tuesday the situation is becoming just as dire in his province. Scott Moe said upwards of 15,000 people have had to leave their communities and more are likely in the coming days. “We didn’t have a very good day yesterday,” he told reporters in Prince Albert, Sask. …Moe said the biggest destruction has been in places like the northern village of Denare Beach, near the Manitoba boundary, where some family homes have been lost. There will likely be challenging days ahead due to a lack of rain in the forecast, the premier added. …Marlo Pritchard from the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency said about 400 structures have been lost. Many firefighters had to stand down in some areas Monday due to “extreme fire behaviour,” he said.

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Evacuation orders issued as winds fan flames of wildfire near B.C.-Alberta border

By Akshay Kulkarni
CBC News
June 3, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

New evacuation orders have been issued due to the Kiskatinaw River wildfire near the B.C.-Alberta border in northeastern B.C. on Tuesday, in addition to previous orders for 55 properties issued late last week. As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire covered an area of just under 40 square kilometres, and is one of B.C.’s two “wildfires of note” — those that are particularly visible or pose a threat to public safety — the other being the Summit Lake wildfire in the far north. Highway 52 East remains closed in the area due to the blaze, which is burning close to the Pembina Steeprock gas processing facility. The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) says that the wildfire is set to experience “significant growth in the coming days”, with winds up to 60 km/h pushing the fire north, south and east towards Kelly Lake and the B.C.-Alta. border by Friday.

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No relief in sight from wildfires as 20 Saskatchewan communities under evacuation orders

By Aishwarya Dudha
CBC News
June 1, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada West

Wildfires in Saskatchewan are expected to continue to grow aggressively during the next few days, fuelled by high temperatures, winds and dry conditions. And there’s no sign of relief in sight, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency. “This will drastically impact our ability to contain some of these fires and will actually cause some of these fires to grow in size over the next period of time,” Steve Roberts, SPSA vice-president of operations, said Sunday. As of Sunday afternoon, 15 fires were burning in the province, down from 17 because two fires have merged and some small fires have been contained, the SPSA said. Roberts said 20 communities are under an evacuation order as of  Sunday. The latest evacuation orders have been in Sturgeon Landing and Timber Bay. Thousands of people have already been displaced from their homes in communities including Hall Lake, Pelican Narrows, Creighton, Denare Beach and Weyakwin.

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Wildfires prompt air quality statements across northwestern Ontario as evacuations continue

By Sarah Law
CBC News
June 2, 2025
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada, Canada East

A number of special air quality statements are in effect across northwestern Ontario, as wildfire activity remains rampant throughout the region. Statements were issued early Monday morning for well over a dozen communities, including several First Nations… “Wildfire smoke is expected to move into the area early this morning and may remain in place for the next several days for some areas,” the statements say. “As smoke levels increase, health risks increase. Limit time outdoors.” Evacuations are continuing in Deer Lake First Nation and Webequie First Nation. Meanwhile, members of Wabaseemoong Independent Nations have been under an evacuation order since mid-May. Webequie First Nation first declared a state of emergency on Thursday. Chief Cornelius Wabasse said high demands for aircraft in other communities affected by wildfires delayed his community’s evacuation. “There is a shortage of planes and also other resources,” Wabasse said on Monday morning.

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