Daily News for July 16, 2026

Today’s Takeaway

Thank you for visiting the Tree Frog Forestry News

The Tree Frog Forestry News
July 16, 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.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor

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Business & Politics

The Truck Loggers Association Statement on Canfor’s Northwood Pulp Mill Closure

The Truck Loggers Association
July 15, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

The Truck Loggers Association (TLA) is deeply saddened by today’s announcement that Canfor’s Northwood Pulp Mill in Prince George will permanently close. …This closure is another stark reminder that BC’s forest sector remains in crisis. …For years, industry has raised concerns about the growing challenges facing BC’s forest sector… While these issues have been well understood, meaningful action to address them has not kept pace with the urgency of the situation. The continued loss of manufacturing capacity threatens the entire forestry supply chain. Independent contractors who harvest and deliver fibre, businesses that support mill operations, and the communities that rely on forestry employment will all feel the effects of this closure. The TLA continues to call on government to take decisive action to improve access to economically viable fibre, address BC’s high-cost operating environment, and implement measures that help sustain forestry jobs and the rural communities that depend on them.

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Union says B.C. mill closure leaves workers ‘reeling,’ as industry woes persist

By Ashley Joannou
The Canadian Press in Business in Vancouver
July 15, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The latest blow to BC’s battered forestry sector has prompted industry, union and local officials to call for immediate support. The push comes after Canfor announced the impending closure of its Northwood pulp mill near Prince George, BC. …COFI president Kim Haakstad likened the situation to a medical emergency. “The patient (is) on the operating table, it’s not the time to think about lifestyle changes,” she said. …Forests Minister Ravi Parmar, meanwhile, said he expects to roll out plans for the province’s permitting system “imminently.” …Canfor said that additional pulp production capacity had come online globally, pushing prices down. …Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor’s western regional director, said the loss of so many jobs in a community the size of Prince George can have cascading social and economic impacts. “The pulp mills are fed by sawmills, so there’s jobs that will be lost in the sawmills. Then you have all of the contractors”.

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

Premier David Eby advances B.C.–China co-operation on sustainable wood construction

By Canada Wood Group
LinkedIn
July 15, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, International

Premier David Eby’s visit to China formed part of British Columbia’s broader mission to diversify and strengthen markets for B.C. forest products and sustainable building solutions. Through engagements in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong, the mission reinforced co-operation across the wood value chain—from policy development and industry adoption to commercial applications and market opportunities. The mission began in Beijing with a meeting between Premier Eby and Deputy Minister Song Youchun, China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD). The discussions built on the Memorandum of Understanding on Modern Wood Construction Co-operation, signed earlier this year during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to China. As a key signatory to the agreement, British Columbia continues to play a central role in supporting co-operation on modern wood construction between Canada and China. 

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Forestry

Forest Congress calls for end to old-growth logging in Tasmania but environmental groups want more

By Jano Gibson
ABC News, Australia
July 15, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: International

Bridget Archer

AUSTRALIA– A coalition of conservationists, artists and forest industry figures has called for an end to old-growth logging in Tasmania but major environmental groups have distanced themselves from the “shared vision statement”, saying it does not go far enough. …The Forest Congress released a push to end the harvesting of old-growth trees while supporting a “responsible” forestry industry. “We agree that forests should be managed for all their values — ecological, cultural, social and economic — with the forest health as the foundation,” the statement says. …Sawmilling business Neville Smith Group is one of the signatories. …Four national environmental groups said the Forest Congress’s focus on old-growth forests was inadequate. …Tasmanian minister Bridget Archer said trees from old-growth forests made up only a small portion of what was harvested. She said the government remained a strong supporter of the forestry industry, and welcomed the process behind the Forest Congress initiative.

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Forest History & Archives

Seedy Business Stories: Sitka Spruce Collections in Haida Gwaii

By Don Pigott
The Tree Frog Forestry News
July 16, 2026
Category: Forest History & Archives
Region: Canada West

Forestry veteran Don Pigott continues his memoir series with an engaging account of a Sitka spruce cone collection on Haida Gwaii in the fall of 1983. What began as a routine assignment to collect seed from higher-elevation stands soon became a memorable journey marked by relentless rain, challenging field conditions, colourful characters, and the camaraderie that defines life in the woods. Along the way, Don reflects on visits to the legendary Golden Spruce and the small communities that supported the work, capturing a time when resourcefulness, hard work, and good humour were essential tools of the trade. Rich in historical detail and personal insight, this latest installment offers an authentic glimpse into an era of British Columbia forestry that is rapidly passing into history.

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