The BC Supreme Court’s decision in Cowichan v. Canada has drawn national attention. For the first time, a Canadian court has granted a declaration of Aboriginal title over privately owned lands. …But at the same time, the New Brunswick Court of Appeal in J.D. Irving v. Wolastoqey Nation ruled that the private lands held by timber companies were not subject to declarations of Aboriginal title. …We need to understand each ruling to understand the trajectory of Canadian law’s engagement with reconciliation. It’s clear that the rulings in fact point in just one direction, because Cowichan can be sustained only by rewriting the Supreme Court’s settled doctrine of Aboriginal title, while Wolastoqey, with one severable modification, remains faithful to it. Of the two decisions, only Wolastoqey offers an approach that is legally sound and clear in its application. …Wolastoqey demonstrates that proven wrongs can be addressed through compensation and negotiation without unsettling land titles or distorting the doctrine of Aboriginal title; Cowichan does the opposite. [to access the full story a Globe & Mail subscription is required]
TORONTO — Canadian businesses hit by targeted U.S. tariffs are struggling to respond as the trade war drags into its second year. …industries like metal production, lumber and automobiles continue to face steep duties more than a year after U.S. President Donald Trump upended the global status quo. Companies have cut staff, pulled back on production and pushed for government action as the heavy duties continue to shake the crucial and long-standing trade relationship with the U.S. …“Because of the way that these tariffs are imposed … five to six key manufacturing subsectors are really, really hurting versus the rest of the economy”, said Claire Fan, senior economist at RBC. …The softwood lumber industry was hit by harsh duties back in 2017, which Trump has since added to, resulting in production down over 25 per cent since the first round, she noted. The result is 22 mills closed since 2022 and another 50 with reduced operations…
In a world of colourful economic pie charts and slick bar graphs, the image of a three-sided circle is both awkward and uncomfortable. Yet this image may depict the emerging fate of the Canada-US-Mexico Trade Agreement. For Canada, the wild ride through Trumpian trade policy has now entered a decisive phase. …Some rules of the road ahead are beginning to take shape. First there is a recognition and begrudging acceptance that there will be some tariffs where CUSMA had none. …Secondly, despite warm commitments to the trilateral CUSMA relationship, Canada and Mexico are engaged in separate bilateral discussions with the US. …Enter the three-sided circle. Here the current comprehensive trilateral agreement would evolve into three bilateral trade agreements bound by a core centre that holds common rules and undertakings. …In triaging the trade-wounded, no sector deserves a bigger fix than Canada’s softwood lumber industry. Its market access to the US has been battered by 40 years of aggressive protectionism. 
Trade watchers say they are shocked at the latest tactic being used by the US to shore up its tariff wall against Canada after a legal setback last month. US Trade Representative (USTR) launched investigations into 60 economies under Section 301(b) of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 to determine whether they have failed to impose or enforce bans on imports produced with forced labour. But critics in the Washington beltway say the 301 probes are basically a “show trial” and that the verdict is sure to go against trading partners such as Canada. Canada is being grouped together with China and dozens of other countries for these investigations. The probes will examine whether Ottawa’s forced-labour rules and framework… are sufficient for screening goods produced by child or forced labour. …“This has nothing to do with forced labour,” said Inu Manak, at the Council on Foreign Relations. …He thinks the administration is constructing a pretext to defend the tariffs it’s already planning.
While Canada’s economy is far more reliant on exports to the US than vice versa, Canadian negotiators have crucial ammunition in their efforts to land a trade deal that reduces or eliminates tariffs imposed by US President Trump. …Canada’s attempts to negotiate relief from Trump’s tariffs on such exports as steel, aluminum, automobiles and softwood lumber are now wrapped into fresh talks on renewing the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). …Barry Appleton, says Canada needs to shift its strategy by exerting its leverage as a crucial U.S. customer. …Inu Manak, says the US needs Canadian natural resources to achieve the industrial policy goals set out by the US administration. …Canada is among the top sources of foreign direct investment in the U.S., largely as a result of decisions by pension funds. …The US has repeatedly emphasized the importance of steady access to a reliable supply of critical minerals.
Kemptville, ON — Under the leadership of Canadian Forest Owners (CFO), the Ontario Woodlot Association (OWA), along with partnering associations nationwide, has appointed BrokerLink as our exclusive insurance broker. This 
With just 13 days to go, anticipation is building for the 
The final step in a $120-million investment into BC’s forestry sector by a West Kelowna family-owned forestry company has concluded, following the Minister of Forests’ official approval of a tenure transfer from Weyerhaeuser to Gorman Group. “Gorman Group is investing in the future of forestry, investing in a new chapter for Princeton, and investing in the transformation of the community into a real forestry hub,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests. …“By approving this tenure transfer, we are supporting a company that believes in value-added manufacturing, using every fibre to its fullest potential and keeping jobs here at home.” …The transferred tenures total approximately 682,000 cubic metres. …“We recognize that any Crown tenure transfer comes with important responsibilities and obligations to First Nations, communities and employees who depend on the long-term stewardship of the land and the careful use of the fibre,” said Nick Arkle, CEO, Gorman Group. 
Princeton’s mill celebrated not just new owners but a new name as well with the handover of forestry tenures from Weyerhaeuser to West Kelowna-based Gorman Bros on March 19. …The transfer of the timber tenures has happened quickly since being announced in September 2025, as far as tenure transfers go and especially with the new legislative requirements to consider public interest. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said “Here you have a company that is continuing to make investments in BC in a time where things are tough right now in forestry. …That speaks well to the future of forestry and gives me the hope and optimism.” …The Ministry of Forests received nearly 300 letters in support of the Gorman tenure transfer from individuals, businesses, First Nations, contractors, community forests and unions during the public input period. “This is a good step forward for a sustainable forestry sector,” Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne said.
Last year was hard on workers in some industries within B.C.’s resource sector, particularly forestry, and 2026 doesn’t look like it’s starting much better. Statistics Canada’s February labour force survey, the report that tracks overall unemployment, tracked job losses in both the natural resources and manufacturing sectors for both the previous month and for the 12 months since the same month in 2025. Natural resources … had a year-over-year loss of 9,300 jobs from February 2025 to February 2026. The manufacturing classification, which includes lumber production, had a year-over-year loss of 12,200, according to StatCan. StatCan’s … survey of employment and payroll counted at least 1,200 job losses in forestry, which include logging and supporting jobs, and at least 800 job losses in sawmills between December 2024 and December 2025. …“The worst was probably in the fourth quarter (of 2025) when the full bite of the duties hit, and then the (U.S.) tariffs,” said industry consultant Russ Taylor. “That’s when we saw a lot more of the jobs falling off.”
Acadian Timber, one of Canada’s largest forest landowners, wants to close the performance gap between New Brunswick and its business in Maine, a goal its new interim CEO says is achievable despite labour and market challenges. …Malcolm Cockwell, who was named interim boss last month, said, “There are a lot of strong companies here that are investing in their facilities and running them pretty consistently even in challenging markets. Maine is a little bit more hit-and-miss with facilities not being as consistent with their operating schedule and a number of facilities dropping out over the last couple of years.” Acadian has just under 1 million hectares of land under management across New Brunswick and northeastern Maine, with approximately 313,000 hectares of freehold timberlands – privately owned forest land – in New Brunswick and 121,000 in Maine. …One way to make that happen in Maine is to improve Acadian Timber’s contractor base.
USW members voted overwhelmingly this winter to ratify a new four-year master agreement that provides significant annual wage increases and additional benefits for about 2,400 members of nine local unions at Domtar paper facilities across the United States. The contract, which runs through December 2029, followed months of member preparations and bargaining during a period of major changes in the company and across the paper industry. It was the first time USW members bargained a new agreement since Paper Excellence acquired Domtar in 2021 and then Resolute in 2023. …“With new ownership and leadership at the table, we knew this round of bargaining would be challenging,” said International Vice President Luis Mendoza, who oversees the union’s paper sector. …The agreement… included a signing bonus, a boost in pension payments, wage increases of more than 12% over the life of the contract, and continued affordable health care coverage.
Arizona — Efforts to scale up forest thinning across northern Arizona are intensifying, as local officials, industry representatives and environmental groups warn that time is running short to reduce wildfire risk and protect critical watersheds. “Everybody is aware now that there is a biomass issue, but very, very, very few people have any real knowledge of the solution,” Eastern Arizona Counties Organization Executive Director Pascal Berlioux said during a recent Natural Resources Working Group meeting. A broad coalition is advocating for construction of a second biomass-burning power plant, arguing it is essential to prevent the collapse of the region’s wood products industry. Without that industry, leaders say, large-scale thinning efforts could stall, increasing the likelihood of severe wildfires threatening forest communities. 
WASHINGTON STATE– Current and former employees are suing Western Forest Products’ Vancouver operation, alleging the company failed to give employees breaks and pay wages owed. …Western manufactures lumber at its Fruit Valley location and formerly operated a Columbia Vista sawmill that closed after a fire last year. …The group of current and former employees also allege Western Forest Products didn’t keep accurate payroll records. The complaint states about 40 employees could have been impacted by the alleged practices. Babita Khunkhun, spokesperson for Western Forest Products, said “While we cannot comment on the specifics of the allegations at this time, we take all employee concerns seriously,” Khunkhun said. The company is reviewing the lawsuit and will respond through the appropriate legal process, she added. Western Forest Products recently unveiled plans to expand its Fruit Valley manufacturing operation.
PENSACOLA, Florida — West Fraser is requesting a tax break from Escambia County as the lumber company prepares for a planned expansion at its McDavid sawmill. Escambia County staff prepared a draft ordinance proposing the Canadian-based lumber company receive a 70% ad valorem tax exemption for a period of five years. …West Fraser applied for an EDATE for the assessed value of certain improvements. If the exemption is granted… over the next five years, the estimate of the taxable value lost to the county if the exemption is granted is $70,252,000 improvements to real property. In 2023, the board adopted a resolution supporting West Fraser’s expansion and agreed to consider the lumber company’s EDATE application when it was submitted. The county is scheduled to vote March 26 at its board meeting on scheduling a public hearing to consider establishing an EDATE for West Fraser. 
At the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference, US Department of Agriculture Administrator J.R. Claeys announced the USDA is guaranteeing $115.2 million across eight states (
KINGSPORT — Domtar’s Kingsport mill told the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation that it will try a method to improve wastewater quality at its wastewater lagoon this week. The mill said it will add an oxidant near the outlet of the lagoon’s settling zone for about 30 days to see if it would improve the effluent water quality. “It will be fed at a low rate of approximately 1 [part per million] with monitoring and testing being done at our effluent sample point before the discharge to the river,” the letter states. The mill has also tried chemical treatments and injecting liquid oxygen to address sulfuric odors attributed to the 25-acre wastewater lagoon.It is currently constructing a new wastewater treatment system, an anaerobic digester, to address wastewater odors attributed to the mill. Construction is expected to complete near the end of 2026.
METCALFE, Georgia — Plantation Pine Products officially opened their doors at the former site of Hood Industries, signaling an exciting new chapter in a timber mill with a storied history. …The $25 million investment is set to provide 100 jobs, with the first mill employees reporting for duty in July, when it will once again come alive. Operated by Steve Conner, Plantation Pine Products will be one of the many “bread and butter businesses” of Thomasville. …“Forestry is woven into the fabric of rural Georgia in a way that no other industry can match,” Michelle Shaw said for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. …The reopening of the mill comes at a crucial time following the devastation of Hurricane Helene in 2025 and reinforces the resiliency of timber producers across Georgia.
