Mark Carney
Prime Minister Carney says Canada and the US could resolve the ongoing tariff dispute within “days” if the US side had the “bandwidth and the inclination to go through with it.” The US has maintained hefty import levies on a number of Canadian goods including steel, aluminum, copper, some automotive parts, lumber and other wood products. Carney said that the Canadian side is ready to work on a deal that would see some of those tariffs lifted, but he’s not interested in quickly achieving a “small deal.” …Carney suggested countries that quickly worked out some form of tariff relief with the U.S. aren’t happy with the deals they got. A number of countries such as the UK, Japan and the EU block reached agreements with the US within the last year, but those deals kept some form of tariff on imports to the US.
- In related coverage by Adam Huras in the Telegraph-Journal: Everything you need to know about Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade talks
Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) has launched a new 
CALGARY, Alberta — Alberta’s government is investing $6 million over three years to support the next generation of skilled trades workers with the launch of the Alberta Trades Discovery Centre. The industry-led initiative will offer junior high and high school students hands-on exposure to careers in the skilled trades before they graduate. Set to open this fall, the Alberta Trades Discovery Centre will provide a dedicated, professional space where students can explore construction trades, learn directly from experienced tradespeople and discover what they are good at and what they enjoy, helping them make informed choices about high school courses, post-secondary pathways and future careers.
A Nanaimo public hearing on a controversial rezoning application to allow for the industrial development of forested lands near Cedar is entering its third week. …The application was put forward last spring by Harmac Pacific, which operates the Nanaimo Forest Products site. The land is zoned as “rural resource,” meaning the property can’t be used for industry. The rezoning proposal includes a parkland designation for an 11.3-hectare section of “forested buffer” alongside the popular Cable Bay Trail. Paul Sadler, CEO of Harmac Pacific, said the company built the Cable Bay trail in 1990. “We’re interested in protecting it,” he said, adding that the buffer section would quadruple the size of the park area.Sadler said he feels that the public hearing process has been “hijacked” by those opposed to the rezoning… noting that any applications to use the site after it is rezoned would undergo environmental assessments and a government permit process.
San Group companies and federal bank launch multi-pronged legal attack after insurer denies claims over major 2024 fire in Delta. …At the heart of the dispute is Lloyd’s Underwriters and its move to deny a nearly $31-million insurance claim over claims the fire was not an accident, but a deliberate act of arson carried out by the owners. In a Dec. 30, 2025, letter Lloyd’s informed the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and San Group subsidiary Acorn Forest Products that it was voiding the company’s primary and excess insurance policies. According to court documents, Lloyd’s determined the fire was “caused by arson perpetrated by Acorn, alone or in collusion with others” and through the acts or under the guidance of the company’s “directing minds.” The San Group has strongly denied the allegations. Both Acorn and its parent company maintain that Lloyd’s has failed to provide proof of arson and is using the allegation to avoid a massive payout.
A group of Chemainus sawmill workers facing the prospect of being out of work for at least the rest of this year is calling on the federal government to make good on a promise to provide an extra 20 weeks of employment insurance support. About two dozen employees of the Western Forest Products mill, which the company has said will be shuttered until at least 2027, say they have been excluded by Service Canada from a promised 20 extra weeks of EI. “All I’m asking for is for these 20 to 24 people just to be paid the 20 weeks that was promised to them,” said Brian Bull, who has worked at the Chemainus mill for 34 years. The last day of work at the mill was technically July 15, but the majority of the mill was shut down June 18, putting 120 people out of work, he said.
After meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday, Premier David Eby confirmed that US liquor products will remain off BC liquor store shelves, despite pressure from American officials. Eby wants the Americans to ease duties and tariffs on the softwood lumber sector before relenting on U.S. liquor products. …The issue gained renewed international attention after US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called the measures against American alcohol products “disrespectful”. …One of the major sticking points for Eby is what he sees as preferential treatment by the US for lumber from Russia and Europe, just as punitive measures are ratcheted up on Canadian softwood products. “The reality is that British Columbians are pissed off about our industry being attacked, our families losing jobs for absolutely no reason, to prefer Russian and European lumber to Canadian lumber,” he said.
The Interior Logging Association is set to welcome members and delegates to Kamloops from April 30 to May 2 for its 68th AGM and Convention—an event that continues to bring the BC forestry community together around shared challenges and opportunities. This year’s theme, “Stronger Together for Forestry’s Future,” speaks to a program that blends business, safety, and good old-fashioned industry camaraderie. The three-day event kicks off with the Interior Safety Conference, followed by a full schedule of indoor and outdoor exhibits at the Powwow Grounds—open to the public and showcasing the latest in equipment, services, and innovation. Familiar favourites return, including the Simulator Tree Falling Competition and the ever-popular Big Truck Show & Shine. The convention offers plenty of opportunities to connect, with a Meet & Greet, breakfast, luncheon, and Friday night Dinner & Dance rounding out the agenda. Now in its 68th year, the convention remains a cornerstone event for the sector—highlighting the people, partnerships, and practical know-how that keep BC’s forestry industry moving forward.
Northern Pulp’s closure plan for its mill site in Abercrombie Point, N.S., is still not complete, but a B.C. court heard Tuesday that the plan could soon begin coming into focus as the company’s creditor protection process continues to play out. …Because the plan is not final, the monitor notes in its report that it’s subject to change. The report says the company will explore options for the mill site and remaining property, which could include trying to market it to sell. Failing that, however, demolition is expected to begin in November. The court also heard Tuesday that the sale of the company’s timberlands to a company owned by billionaire blueberry mogul John Bragg is expected to be complete in the coming days. That sale, worth $235 million, will generate money for the closure plan, the mill’s creditors and to wind up the company pension.
TORONTO— The Ontario government has launched the 
LOUISIANA — Davis Timber Company, Inc. announced it will invest $1.9 million to expand its Beauregard Parish operations with new production capabilities that will enhance efficiency and strengthen Louisiana’s timber industry. The company is expected to create 12 direct new jobs while retaining 11 current positions. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional nine indirect new jobs, for a total of 21 potential new job opportunities in the Southwest Region. …Davis Timber Company’s expansion will take place at its production facility within the Beauregard Regional Airport Industrial Complex in DeRidder, where the company produces poles and pilings used in utility and infrastructure applications. The project will add new processing capabilities to the existing operation, improving efficiency and enhancing product readiness for market.
UK — Forestry has long sat at the margins of the insurance market, often folded into broader property portfolios and lightly scrutinised. That position is becoming harder to sustain. The class now requires a level of focus and expertise the market has not always applied, said Daniel Longden, head of forestry at Orvia Underwriting. The sector differs from traditional property risks in one fundamental way: it is constantly changing. Trees grow, are harvested and replanted, altering the risk profile year by year. That dynamic sits alongside an exposure to catastrophe events that can erase entire areas in a single incident. …This variability complicates underwriting and limits the development of standardised data sets, helping explain why the class has remained relatively niche despite growing investor interest. …Where underwriters once relied heavily on historical loss data and third-party reporting, satellite technology now offers a more direct view of exposure.
India is a strategic priority for New Zealand because of its growing global influence, economic scale, and regional importance. This is why New Zealand is building a broad, deep, and enduring strategic relationship with India. By 2030, India’s GDP is expected to reach around NZ$12 trillion, making it one of the world’s largest economies. India’s rapidly growing middle class is projected to soon reach 715 million – those consumers alone will be a larger market for New Zealand than the European Union or ASEAN. …The impact and value of the NZ-India FTA will grow over time – delivering greater market access through streamlined border processes and phased tariff cuts. …On forestry and timber – a major export to India – over 95% of our exports become tariff-free immediately at entry into force. Almost all other exports benefit from tariff elimination over seven years, providing a valuable market option for wood exporters.