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The Tree Frog Forestry News
November 9, 2026
Category: Today's Takeaway
Hello early bird! We just want you to know that the news team is busy adding stories to this page. Be sure to check back at 9:00 am (PST) for the full line up of articles.
B.C.’s forestry sector faces long road to recovery despite federal funding
By Joe Sadowski
CityNews Vancouver
November 7, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West
Nearly two months ago, one of B.C.’s key economic generators warned they were on the verge of shutting down. Now the federal government has earmarked $6.5 billion in funding for the country’s forestry sector. But that money will be rolled out over six years, won’t start flowing until at least the middle of next year and it’s not yet clear how much of it will come to B.C. “It’s an urgent situation and we need action right away,” said Peter Lister, executive director of the Truck Loggers Association. …While the federal funding is welcomed, industry leaders say action is needed today to reverse the damage done by plummeting lumber costs and American tariffs. …Kim Haakstad with the BC Council of Forest Industries says the historic federal funding alone won’t solve the root issues. Haakstad points to convoluted and costly regulatory barriers from federal and provincial governments as something that needs to be addressed quickly.
FortisBC sued over expropriation of piece of former Tolko mill site in Kelowna
By Nicholas Jophansen
Castanet
November 6, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West
A piece of Tolko’s former mill site in Kelowna’s North End has been expropriated by FortisBC, and Tolko is unhappy with the compensation they received. Tolko Industries filed a notice of civil claim against FortisBC, alleging the $7.41 million the utility handed over for a two-acre parcel of land wasn’t enough. Fortis plans to construct a new electrical substation at the site. The long-running Tolko mill shut down in early 2020, and the 40-acre site has sat empty since then. Tolko Industries sister company Holar Developments is managing the development of the property, with plans to turn it into a mixed-use residential community. …Before expropriating a piece of the former Tolko mill site for a new substation, FortisBC said they tried negotiating with Tolko. Fortis was “not able to reach an agreement that reflected fair value for our customers.”
High Purity Dissolving Pulp From Brazil and Norway Does Not Injure U.S. Industry, Says U.S. International Trade Commission
United States International Trade Commission
November 6, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is not materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of high purity dissolving pulp from Brazil and Norway that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value and subsidized by the government of Brazil. … As a result of the Commission’s negative determinations, Commerce will not issue antidumping duty orders on this product from Brazil and Norway, nor will it issue a countervailing duty order on imports from Brazil.
Taiga Building Products reports Q3, 2026 net earnings of $13.2 million
By Taiga Building Products Ltd.
PR Newswire
November 6, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, Canada West
BURNABY, BC — Taiga Building Products reported its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025. The Company’s consolidated net sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 were $433.0 million compared to $431.3 million over the same period last year. The increase in sales of $1.7 million or 0.4% was largely due to changes in product mix during the quarter. …Net earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 increased to $13.2 million from $12.8 million over the same period last year. The increase was driven by the higher gross margin dollars with lower administrative and financing expenses. …The Company’s consolidated net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 were $1,208.8 million compared to $1,272.2 million. Net earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 rose to $38.3 million from $37.7 million.
Doman Building Materials Group reports Q3, 2026 net earnings of $19.7 million
By Doman Building Materials Group
The Canadian Press
November 6, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, Canada East
VANCOUVER, BC — Doman Building Materials announced its third quarter 2026 financial results for the period ended September 30, 2026. For the three-month period ended September 30, 2026, consolidated revenues increased to $841.7 million, compared to $795.1 million in 2025, largely due to increases in year-over-year pricing in certain construction materials categories. Gross margin dollars modestly increased to $124.8 million during the three-month period in 2026, versus $123.1 million in 2025. Gross margin percentage was lower during the three-month period at 14.8%, when compared to 15.5% in 2025. … Net earnings for the three-month period ended September 30, 2026, were $19.7 million versus $18.1 million in the comparative period of 2025.
Hiring Rebounds in October, but Residential Construction Employment Declines
By Jing Fu
NAHB Eye on Housing
November 6, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States
The U.S. labor market rebounded in October, with nonfarm payroll employment increasing by 165,000 jobs and the unemployment rate declining to 4.1%. However, the improvement in overall employment contrasts with continued weakness in residential construction, where employment fell by 16,400 jobs, the largest monthly decline since March 2021. Despite the October rebound, the labor market has recorded job losses in seven of the past 22 months. … Employment in the overall construction sector declined by 3,000 jobs in October, marking its first monthly decline since February, following an upwardly revised gain of 16,000 in September. Within the industry, residential construction employment fell by 16,400, the largest monthly decline since March 2021. In contrast, non-residential construction employment increased by approximately 13,300.
Summer’s lasting impact: B.C.’s storm season starts before the first storm
BC Hydro News
November 5, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West
B.C.’s storm season may start with the first major windstorm or atmospheric river, but the conditions that determine its impact can take shape months earlier. A new BC Hydro report, The new reality: Emergency season is year-round, finds that the effects of drought, persistent heat and wildfire can linger long after temperatures cool. Trees weakened by dry conditions, wildfire-damaged landscapes and stressed infrastructure can become more vulnerable when severe fall and winter storms arrive. The report underscores a growing reality across British Columbia: emergency seasons are becoming increasingly connected. …Prolonged drought can weaken trees and root systems, while wildfire can damage trees that remain standing long after flames are extinguished. These risks often aren’t visible until high winds, heavy rain or snow place them under additional stress. …The report stresses that emergency preparedness should begin … before severe weather arrives…
Short-term impacts of fuel treatments to above-ground forest carbon storage and stability in southeastern BC, Canada
By Rachel Pekelney, Bianca Eskelson, Lori Daniels & Kea Rutherford
Springer Nature – Fire Ecology
October 30, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West
Extreme wildfires produce substantial carbon emissions and are increasingly causing some forests to transition from carbon sinks to net carbon sources. Fuel treatments are often implemented to proactively reduce the risk of severe wildfire and resulting emissions; however, there is limited existing research characterizing the effects of these treatments on forest carbon storage and stability in the seasonally dry, fire-prone forests of southeastern BC. …Fuel treatments reduced above-ground carbon storage across all treatment types, 1 year after treatment. High-intensity thinning treatments resulted in greater relative decreases to total above-ground carbon than low-intensity thinning treatments; however, high-intensity thinning improved carbon stability as represented by greater decreases to potential tree mortality from wildfire. High-intensity thinning treatments had greater biomass utilization than low-intensity thinning treatments due to the removal of merchantable timber, which has a longer-term carbon storage potential. Compared to pre-treatment conditions, fuel treatments had a minor impact on potential direct carbon emissions.
Southern Alberta group protesting planned 460-hectare harvest of forest in Crowsnest Pass
By Stephen Tipper
CBC News
November 6, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West
For more than six weeks now, an Alberta group has been protesting the planned harvesting by a forestry company in the Crowsnest Pass. Defenders of the Eastern Slopes members are against the accelerated harvesting by West Fraser of about 460 hectares of forest in the Allison Creek area, in southwest Alberta. While the group says Crowsnest Pass residents deserve meaningful protection from wildfire, members question whether the proposed harvest is the right treatment, in the right place and at the right scale. …West Fraser got a temporary injunction, and, with a police presence, moved the bridge, which the company is placing across Allison Creek to access a logging area. The court injunction allows West Fraser to do its work, and Smith says the group has no intention of impeding the company. …West Fraser said its planned harvesting follows the direction of the Alberta government’s Hazardous Fuels Reduction program.
For more than six weeks now, an Alberta group has been protesting the planned harvesting by a forestry company of a large swath of trees in the Crowsnest Pass. Defenders of the Eastern Slopes members are against the accelerated harvesting by West Fraser of about 460 hectares of forest in the Allison Creek area, in southwest Alberta close to the Alberta-British Columbia border. While the group says Crowsnest Pass residents deserve meaningful protection from wildfire, members question whether the proposed harvest is the right treatment, in the right place and at the right scale. …Defenders of the Eastern Slopes members are attempting to slow down West Fraser’s progress, but in a peaceful, non-violent way, said Smith. …In a statement to CBC News, West Fraser said its planned harvesting by Allison Creek follows the direction of the Alberta government’s Community Hazardous Fuels Reduction (CHFR) program.
CAL FIRE Unveils Statewide Forest and Rangeland Assessment Tracking Wildfire Risks and Land Health
By CAL FIRE
Edhat Santa Barbara
November 6, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: US West
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (CAL FIRE) Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) today announced the release of the latest edition of the California Forest and Rangeland Assessment, a comprehensive,science-based report that examines the health, trends, and resilience of the state’s forests and rangelands amid growing pressures from climate change, wildfire, and land-use change. The new California Forest and Rangeland Assessment is available on the FRAP webpage. To ensure timely access to high-quality data while ongoing review and analysis continue, the Assessment will be released in batches. The final compiled report is expected to be released in Q2, 2027. The Assessment brings together data for more than 50 indicators to show trends in wildfire severity, tree mortality, water resources, wildlife habitat, and climate parameters, as well as several other wildland related topics. Together, these data provide a comprehensive statewide snapshot of California’s natural landscapes and the challenges they face.
Colorado voters approve plan to divert $200M a year in existing tax revenue to land management
By Jason Blevins
The Colorado Sun
November 6, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West
Proposition 137 has passed, allowing existing sales tax revenue collected from sporting goods purchases — an estimated $200 million annually — to fund conservation and wildfire rehabilitation and mitigation. The Associated Press called the race for Proposition 137 at with 51.6% of the votes counted in favour of the measure and 48.4% opposed. And it was a diverse collection of Coloradans voting in favor of the ballot measure. …The measure directs the legislature to distribute $83 million a year to Great Outdoors Colorado, nearly doubling the conservation group’s annual distribution from the Colorado Lottery. Another $83 million will be split between the Department of Natural Resources and the Colorado State Forest Service for wildfire risk reduction and rehabilitation of watersheds damaged by wildfire. The state currently spends about $16.4 million on wildfire risk reduction and another $5 million a year on restoring burned landscapes.
Deep drought fueling White Mountains forest fire that has reached historic scale
By Molly Rains
New Hampshire Bulletin
November 6, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US East
NEW HAMPSHIRE — On Thursday night, while crews from across the country battled a wildfire in the dense woods of the White Mountain National Forest, residents of nearby communities and officials with the U.S. Forest Service crowded into the Shelburne Town Hall. …The blaze, which according to officials grew to a peak of nearly 1,000 acres since it began on Sunday but was reduced to 856 acres as of Thursday night, is highly unusual for the region. …“We’re not used to fires of this size here in New England. This is, unofficially, the largest fire in the White Mountain National Forest’s history since its creation,” said Derek Ibarguen, forest supervisor. Drought conditions during the last two years have made the forest much more flammable than it would be under average conditions, said Ryan Hughes, incident commander with the Forest Service, during the meeting.
Amendments related to respirator face seals now in effect
WorkSafeBC
November 6, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada West
As of November 6, 2026, amendments to Part 8 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, relating to face seals, are in effect. These amendments clarify existing requirements for respirators that depend on an effective face seal and introduce consistent terminology, including the term “tight-fitting respirator.” They also clarify that nothing can interfere with the seal or proper functioning of a tight-fitting respirator. The changes do not introduce new regulatory requirements for employers or workers. Some work puts harmful dusts, fumes, mists, gases, or vapours into the air. Some work areas don’t have enough oxygen. A respirator is a type of personal protective equipment (PPE) that protects the wearer by cleaning the air before they breathe it in, or by supplying clean air. A respirator doesn’t remove the hazard. It only protects the wearer if it is: The right type for the hazard and the level of exposure; Properly fitted; and Worn and cared for correctly.
Local governments in B.C. must make plans to reduce the risks of all disasters starting in 2027
By Gordon Hoekstra
The Vancouver Sun in Yahoo! News
November 5, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada West
Municipal officials across B.C. are waiting to see how much financial support, if any, they will get from the new Conservative government to fulfil requirements that they produce more comprehensive emergency management plans for natural and other disasters. The list of disasters is long. It includes floods, wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, avalanches, drought, extreme temperatures, severe storms, volcanoes, hazardous spills, industrial accidents, dam breaches, disease outbreaks, environmental contamination and terrorism, according to a briefing report for local governments on the changes under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act. …Sarrah Storey, president of the Union of B.C. Municipalities, says she is encouraged by the fact that premier-designate Lorne Doerkson has said that emergency preparedness is a priority. …During last month’s election campaign, at a stop in the Interior town of Summerland, Doerkson announced that the Tories would implement a wildfire plan to protect the province’s communities.
Hello early bird! We just want you to know that the news team is busy adding stories to this page. Be sure to check back at 9:00 am (PST) for the full line up of articles.
A piece of Tolko’s former mill site in Kelowna’s North End has been expropriated by FortisBC, and Tolko is unhappy with the compensation they received. Tolko Industries filed a notice of civil claim against FortisBC, alleging the $7.41 million the utility handed over for a two-acre parcel of land wasn’t enough. Fortis plans to construct a new electrical substation at the site. The long-running Tolko mill 
For more than six weeks now, an Alberta group has been protesting the planned harvesting by a forestry company in the Crowsnest Pass. Defenders of the Eastern Slopes members are against the accelerated harvesting by West Fraser of about 460 hectares of forest in the Allison Creek area, in southwest Alberta. While the group says Crowsnest Pass residents deserve meaningful protection from wildfire, members question whether the proposed harvest is the right treatment, in the right place and at the right scale. …West Fraser got a temporary injunction, and, with a police presence, moved the bridge, which the company is placing across Allison Creek to access a logging area. The court injunction allows West Fraser to do its work, and Smith says the group has no intention of impeding the company. …West Fraser said its planned harvesting follows the direction of the Alberta government’s Hazardous Fuels Reduction program.
Proposition 137 has passed, allowing existing sales tax revenue collected from sporting goods purchases — an estimated $200 million annually — to fund conservation and wildfire rehabilitation and mitigation. The Associated Press called the race for Proposition 137 at with 51.6% of the votes counted in favour of the measure and 48.4% opposed. And it was a diverse collection of Coloradans voting in favor of the ballot measure. …The measure directs the legislature to distribute $83 million a year to Great Outdoors Colorado, nearly doubling the conservation group’s annual distribution from the Colorado Lottery. Another $83 million will be split between the Department of Natural Resources and the Colorado State Forest Service for wildfire risk reduction and rehabilitation of watersheds damaged by wildfire. The state currently spends about $16.4 million on wildfire risk reduction and another $5 million a year on restoring burned landscapes. 
NEW HAMPSHIRE — On Thursday night, while crews from across the country battled a wildfire in the dense woods of the White Mountain National Forest, residents of nearby communities and officials with the U.S. Forest Service crowded into the Shelburne Town Hall. …The blaze, which according to officials grew to a peak of nearly 1,000 acres since it began on Sunday but was reduced to 856 acres as of Thursday night, is highly unusual for the region. …“We’re not used to fires of this size here in New England. This is, unofficially, the largest fire in the White Mountain National Forest’s history since its creation,” said Derek Ibarguen, forest supervisor. Drought conditions during the last two years have made the forest much more flammable than it would be under average conditions, said Ryan Hughes, incident commander with the Forest Service, during the meeting.
