The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) released a new national research report, titled Canada’s Forest Economy: An Analysis of the National Supply Chain and Community Investment Impact, which underscores the forest sector’s vital contributions to Canada’s economy, rural development, and urban sustainability. Produced with the expertise of iTOTEM Analytics and in partnership with BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) – the report highlights how 19 leading forest products companies in Canada are sustaining a network of 30,000 vendors spanning approximately 1,595 municipalities nationwide.
Together, these partnerships generated $14.9 billion in supply chain expenditures in 2022 alone, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate of 9.5% since 2020. In alignment with the First Nations Major Projects Coalition Conference Valuing Reconciliation in Global Markets happening this week, the forestry sector is deeply invested in partnering with Indigenous communities across the country and learning more on how reconciliation strengthens both commercial success & project sustainability.
“The forest products sector touches every corner of Canada,” said FPAC President and CEO Derek Nighbor. …Beyond supply chain expenditures, the study also revealed that between 2020 and 2022, the forest sector made $39.2 million in community investments – supporting over 2,000 organizations across 380 communities with funding for health, education, public amenities, and Indigenous initiatives. “As our sector continues to evolve, this research helps shine a light on the outsized and interconnected role that Canada’s forest sector, along with our commitment to growing the economy and building strong partnerships across rural and urban communities alike, plays in Canada’s national economy,” added Nighbor.
In the face of the unjustified economic attack by the leader of our U.S. neighbours, Canadian Forest Owners (CFO) stand fast as your good neighbours, who are committed to sustainable forest management for resilient, thriving communities coast to coast. Last week’s announced tariffs on Canada’s wood products by U.S. President Trump will harm not just forest landowners but local mills, workers and their families, communities, especially rural ones, and customers on both sides of the border. Together we stand firm with our colleagues in industry and the federal and provincial governments to strengthen the Canadian forest sector and work to bolster family woodlots and the economies of rural communities.
While the market tries to process what’s to come on the trade front, it’s abundantly clear that the new administration is paying special attention to lumber and likely other wood products. Trump and his surrogates have emphasized the point of view that the US has the underlying resources to produce all its own lumber and wood product needs. In response, there have been a number of news articles highlighting the statements and questioning the idea of whether or not America can quickly and completely wean itself off Canadian wood products. …Canada currently supplies about 12.0 BBF of softwood lumber to the US market. After accounting for the 1.3 BBF of exports the US has shipped in recent years, the US is still short just over 3.2 BBF of operable capacity to quickly fill Canadian lumber supply and still meet current demand levels. In other words, at current demand levels, the US softwood lumber market does not clear without Canadian supply.
We’re proud to share that in 2024 the Tree Frog Forestry News readership surged by an impressive 44%, reaching 105,411 unique users (per Google Analytics)! This remarkable growth far outpaces our average annual increase of ~20% over the past decade. Even more, our audience is becoming increasingly continental: in 2020, 22% of our readers were US-based, but by 2024, that number climbed to 39%. Canada still leads at 51%, with the remaining 10% representing international readers from the UK, Australia, Japan, India, and beyond.
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.
The BC Truck Loggers Association is pleased to share and invite you to access the newly developed B.C. Timber Harvest Rate Model. The tool was built using data provided by contractors as a joint project of the TLA, ILA and NWLA. The tool calculates the hourly rates for equipment used in BC’s forest industry. It’s designed to give contractors a baseline rate for a selected piece of equipment, serving as a starting point. The rates in the model reflect the required revenues of a contractor who runs a reasonably efficient operation; however, they may vary based on specific operations. The parameters (such as labour and fuel) can be adjusted in the model to calculate rates tailored to specific needs.
The U.S. Commerce Department today announced new preliminary anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports of 20%. …The duties won’t become final until August, when final determinations are expected to be made. …The new preliminary duties is just the first shot across the bow in what is expected to be a nasty trade war, with additional tariffs that may be layered on top of duties. …Anti-dumping and countervailing duties have been in place on Canadian softwood lumber at varying levels since 2017, following the expiration of the last softwood lumber agreement in 2015. The duties on Canadian softwood lumber have been effective in shrinking Canada’s market share… from about 35% in 2016, to about 24% as of the end of 2024.
Vancouver —Forest Professionals British Columbia (FPBC) honoured 11 individuals as part of its recognition program in Victoria on February 6. FPBC recognized four Distinguished Forest Professionals, one Forest Professional of the Year, one volunteer of the year, and five authors for best magazine article at the 77th FPBC forestry conference recognition banquet. Mark Hay, RPF, of Vernon, Steve Kozuki, RPF(Ret), of Williams Lake, Randy Waterous, RFT, of Grand Forks, and the late Cindy Stern, RPF, of Parksville, were honoured as Distinguished Forest Professionals. This category recognizes significant accomplishments over a career, for providing outstanding service to the profession of forestry and for furthering the principles of FPBC. It is the profession’s highest honour for a registrant. Colin Mahony, PhD, RPF, of Victoria, is the Forest Professional of the Year, recognizing a Registered Professional Forester (RPF), Registered Forest Technologist (RFT), or Affiliated Forest Professional (AFP) for recent, outstanding service to the profession of forestry and furthering the principles of FPBC.
Premier David Eby began his address to the Truck Loggers Association (TLA) Leader’s Luncheon by addressing the economic uncertainty posed by U.S. trade policies, both the existing softwood lumber duties and the proposed 25% tariff on all Canadian imports. He outlined the significant economic impact of the tariffs on BC, should they be implemented and last for four years, which is the loss of over 100,000 jobs and $60 billion in GDP. Working in concert with the rest of Canada, Eby said there are three components to BC’s response. First, retaliatory tariffs would target key U.S. political districts heavily reliant on Canadian goods. …Second, the strategy emphasizes strengthening BC’s economy by addressing bureaucratic delays, accelerating permitting processes, and improving infrastructure. …Third, the plan focuses on market diversification, with initiatives to deepen trade relationships in Asia and other international markets.