Daily News for May 22, 2026

Today’s Takeaway

Supreme Court agrees to hear BC challenge over DRIPA ruling

The Tree Frog Forestry News
May 22, 2026
Category: Today's Takeaway

BC’s appeal of DRIPA ruling could have national implications following conflicting rulings on Indigenous title and private land. In other news: Canada supports New Brunswick’s tariff-impacted workers; Newfoundland signs MOU with Kruger; and construction begins on Paraguay’s first pulp mill. Meanwhile: West Fraser celebrates 40 years on the Toronto Stock Exchange; and the Forest Resources Association elects Kevin Hudson as Board Chair.

In Safety news: BC Forest Safety Council CEO Cherie Whelan announces 3rd annual Forest Safety Week at the Frog; noise-cancelling earbuds are not a substitute for hearing protection; and cases of Lyme disease are on the rise in Montreal.

In Forestry news: the United Nations announces International Day for Biological Diversity; new research says carbon markets underestimate climate risks to US forests; the Valhalla Wilderness Society makes the case for three new BC parks; ENGO takes BC Forest Act Proposal on tour; and Maine’s mill fire is creating forestry supply chain challenges.

Finally, a 17th-century Finnish shipwreck finds new life as textile fibre.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor

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Special Feature

Stronger Together: Forest Safety Week at Tree Frog News

By Cherie Whelan, CEO BC Forest Safety Council
BC Forest Safety Council
May 22, 2026
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada, Canada West

Cherie Whelan

Since stepping into my new role as CEO of the BC Forest Safety Council, I’ve been listening closely to industry to get a better understanding of the emerging trends and concerns that keep us up at night. These conversations have reinforced just how essential safety is to every part of forestry, and how important it is that we continue learning from one another. What I see clearly is that our sector is resilient, and when we stay connected, communicate openly, and work together, we become even stronger.

We’re proud to be partnering with Tree Frog News to deliver our third annual Forest Safety Week from May 25–29. I encourage you to take some time to read through the safety‑focused articles featured throughout the week. They highlight key trends that are shaping the future of forestry safety and support our shared commitment to making sure every forestry worker goes home safe, every day.

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Business & Politics

Canadian truck dealers warn they can’t buy new U.S. models until feds fix paperwork

By Nick Murray
Victoria Times Colonist
May 21, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

OTTAWA — The Canadian Truck Dealers Association says it needs Ottawa to quickly fix a paperwork problem that will prevent dealers from importing new models from the United States next year, warning it will cause further economic pain if the issue isn’t solved. “If Canada faces a shortage of heavy trucks, the impact will extend far beyond our industry,” said Kevin Disher, the head of the association, at a press conference on Parliament Hill on Thursday. “This issue affects every major sector of the Canadian economy. Shipping, infrastructure, construction, forestry, mining, agricultural. If trucks become more difficult or more expensive to access, those costs move throughout the supply chain and ultimately impact Canadian businesses and households.” The truck dealers said manufacturers have been flagging the issue to the federal government for a year, with little progress. Disher said the problem arose after the United States changed how it certifies emissions standards for trucks built there. 

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West Fraser celebrates 40 years on the Toronto Stock Exchange

By West Fraser
LinkedIn
May 21, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada

Today, we marked an important milestone in our history—40 years as a publicly listed company on the Toronto Stock Exchange—by ringing the opening bell in Toronto. When West Fraser arrived on the TSX, it was a regional lumber company. Today it is a leading global provider of lumber, oriented strand board and a range of other renewable, wood building products with operations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. “As we ring this bell, we are not just marking 40 years as a public company — we are celebrating the people, the values and the strategy that have shaped West Fraser into what it is today,” said Chris Virostek, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, West Fraser. The event brought together employees, partners and market representatives. “To our employees, shareholders, customers, communities and partners — thank you for your role in what we have achieved together,” said Chris.

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Supreme Court of Canada to hear B.C.’s appeal of decision it argues brought DRIPA into law

By Alec Lazenby
The Vancouver Sun
May 21, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The Supreme Court of Canada has decided it will hear BC’s appeal of a lower-court ruling that upended the Mineral Tenure Act and potentially gives the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act the force of law. No hearing date has been set by the Supreme Court of Canada. BC Premier David Eby has said the BC Court of Appeal’s 2-1 ruling in December, which found the Mineral Tenure Act “inconsistent” with DRIPA, could put too much power in the hands of judges regarding how reconciliation with First Nations should take place. The Act was intended to gradually bring provincial laws into alignment with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. But Eby has warned the decision brings it into place all at once. “It is absolutely crucial that it is British Columbians, through their elected representatives, that remain in control of this process, not the courts,” Eby said.

Related coverage by:

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Governments of Canada and New Brunswick partner to support tariff-impacted workers and strengthen the workforce

By Employment and Social Development Canada
Government of Canada
May 21, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

The global trade landscape is shifting rapidly, which has created uncertainty and challenges for workers, industries and communities across Canada. …Workers whose jobs have been directly or indirectly impacted by global tariffs will receive support to help them adapt, retrain and succeed, as a result of a partnership agreement announced today by Wayne Long, Secretary of State, alongside Jean-Claude D’Amours, New Brunswick’s Minister of Training and Labour. …Specifically, $13.8 million over three years will be invested through the new Canada–New Brunswick Workforce Tariff Response to support workers in the softwood lumber, mining, construction and transportation sectors, as well as other directly and indirectly tariff-affected industries. This new funding will help over 1,500 workers in New Brunswick build new skills and seize emerging opportunities.

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Newfoundland Signs Letter of Intent with Kruger Inc. to Extend Power Purchase Agreement

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
May 21, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada East

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has signed a letter of intent with Kruger, the owner of Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, to continue discussions related to its diversification plan, specifically a long-term power purchase agreement between the company and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. The Provincial Government plans to extend the current interim power purchase agreement for 12 months, beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027. The Provincial Government is also prepared to discuss a long-term agreement to provide additional certainty for Corner Brook Pulp and Paper sustainability and potential growth. The company will continue to develop wood supply agreements with provincial sawmill operators and expand investments in silviculture. Kruger will continue to operate its mill with one paper machine and maintain its current workforce while the letter of intent is in effect. The parties also agree to explore implementing the company’s long-term diversification project.

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Forest Resources Association Elects Kevin Hudson as Chairman of The Board

The Forest Resources Association
May 21, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States

Charleston, SCDuring the FRA 2026 Annual Meeting, the Forest Resources Association (FRA) Board of Directors elected Kevin Hudson, Senior Vice President, Forest Resources and Recycled Fiber at Smurfit Westrock Company, to serve as the Association’s Chairman of the Board for the next two years. Hudson thanked the Board and outgoing Chairman Josh Sandt of Canfor Southern Pine… During his remarks, Hudson noted, “We are an organization with a diverse membership — one of our greatest strengths — allowing us to hear and learn from perspectives across our industry and throughout the wood supply chain.” …Kevin Hudson is Senior Vice President of Forest Resources and Recycled Fiber for Smurfit Westrock, a role he has held since 2012. He is responsible for leading U.S. and Canadian teams focused on the sustainable procurement of virgin and recycled fiber, overseeing the sourcing of more than 31 million tons of virgin fiber and 6.5 million tons of recycled fiber annually. 

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Paracel has begun infrastructure works for the industrial development hub and Paraguay’s first pulp mill

Paracel S.A.
May 21, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: International

PARAGUAY — Paracel has begun construction on the industrial development hub and infrastructure for the pulp mill, with the groundbreaking ceremony held at the plant site in the Paso Horqueta district, marking a national milestone and solidifying the largest private investment in Paraguay’s history. …The project was financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) with an investment of USD 165 million. The project includes the construction of key assets such as a port and river terminal, electricity transmission lines, access roads, and logistical infrastructure for the company’s pulp mill. ‍…Flavio Deganutti, CEO, stated: “Paraguay’s first pulp mill… will transform the eucalyptus we have already planted into the raw material of the future.” …Grupo Sudati is making a significant investment in expanding the region’s forest base… over 30,000 additional hectares will be planted, further strengthening the region’s productive base. Sudati is Brazil’s largest manufacturer and exporter of plywood.

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Finance & Economics

US mortgage rates hit 9-month high

By Nicole Friedman
The Wall Street Journal
May 21, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Mortgage rates this week rose to the highest level since August, more bad news for home shoppers during what is usually the busiest time of the year for home sales. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.51% this week, from 6.36% last week, Freddie Mac said Thursday.  Higher mortgage rates and expensive home prices are keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines. Rising costs in many places for home insurance and property taxes have also spooked buyers.  The rise in mortgage rates this year marks a reversal from the second half of 2025. …But that brief momentum has stalled. The war in Iran and subsequent rise in oil prices have led to worries about inflation and dampened expectations for the spring home-buying season. Existing-home sales were flat in April, well below economists’ expectations. …Mortgage rates look poised to keep rising. [to access the full story a WSJ subscription is required]

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

The journey of a 17th-century shipwreck continues as a unique knitted dress

By Minna Hölttä
Aalto University
May 20, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

©Esa Kapila/Aalto University

Researchers at Aalto University transformed surplus wood from the Hahtiperä shipwreck into textile fibre, spun it into yarn, and knitted it into a dress using new AI-assisted technology. The dress will be exhibited at the Tomorrow’s Wardrobe exhibition opening 22 May at Oulu Art Museum, and its twin piece will be shown at Aalto University’s Designs for a Cooler Planet exhibition opening 1 September. In 2019, a rare discovery was made during the renovation of a hotel in Oulu: remains of a 17th-century cargo ship were uncovered beneath a parking lot. The vessel was named the Hahtiperä wreck after Oulu’s first harbour. After years of conservation work, some leftover pieces of wood remained and were at risk of ending up in the trash. …Inge Schlapp-Hackl, a researcher at Aalto, along with her colleagues supervised by Professor Michael Hummel, converted over 300-year-old wood from Oulu into textile fiber.

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Forestry

Watching for wildfires: The lonely job of B.C.’s last fire lookouts

CBC Docs
May 20, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

“Lookouts are pretty simple,” says B.C. fire-watcher Bart Vanderlinde. “You have a guy looking for a forest fire 12 hours a day.” High atop Sinkut Mountain in northern B.C., Vanderlinde begins each summer day the same way — scanning the forest for smoke. “You get up, get out of bed … grab the binoculars and scan around,” he says. Vanderlinde is among the last fire-watchers in the province. Where more than 300 lookouts once formed an interconnected network, he now often finds himself keeping guard alone. The Last of the Lookouts is a portrait of a profession that will soon be obsolete. It follows Vanderlinde during what may be his last summer on the job. As of 2025, most of B.C.’s watchtowers had been decommissioned, replaced by new technology — including aerial detection — and improved public reporting. 

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Province-wide tour to present new vision for B.C. forests and rural economies

By Robin Grant
The Campbell River Mirror
May 22, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

A province-wide public tour this June will bring a citizen-led proposal for forest management reform to communities across BC, with stops in Campbell River on June 11, Quadra Island on June 13 and Courtenay on June 15. Jennifer Houghton, campaign director of the New Forest Act Proposal, will lead a series of public presentations called the 2026 New Forest Act Roadshow on the future of B.C.’s forests, watersheds and forest-dependent communities. …“Right now, B.C.’s forest laws are built around maximizing timber extraction,” Houghton said. “The New Forest Act is a proposal to shift forestry toward ecological limits, stable communities, and long-term ecological function instead of short-term liquidation. …Spearheaded by the Boundary Forest Watershed Stewardship Society, the proposal has been developed with contributions from forest ecologists, including forester Herb Hammond. …More information the full tour details are here.

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Webinar: Science-based Solutions for ‘Barriers’ to Salmon Recovery

By Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship
The University of British Columbia
May 22, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Join the Pacific Salmon Foundation for a timely and thought-provoking online seminar exploring the future of Pacific salmon recovery in British Columbia. Despite record-high salmon abundances in parts of the Pacific Ocean, many salmon stocks — particularly in the southern regions of BC — continue to decline, threatening biodiversity, fisheries, and food security. This engaging presentation will examine how physical and management barriers are impacting salmon recovery, and highlight innovative, science-based solutions now being developed through collaborative research. Topics include “fish-friendlier” fisheries practices and improved passage infrastructure designed to help restore struggling salmon populations. The seminar features presenter Dr. Scott Hinch, Professor and Associate Dean of Students in the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, with moderation by Jason Hwang, Chief Program Officer & Vice President of the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
When: June 11, 2026 | 12 pm | Where: Online via Zoom | Cost: Free and open to everyone

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Northwest Territories releases new guidelines for managing wildfire response

CBC News
May 21, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

@NWT Fire

The N.W.T. government has developed new guidelines for managing wildfires in the territory, as it tries to reckon with the worsening impacts of climate change. The guidelines say they are the fruit of a “common mission”: improving “fire services and response … to protect the people we serve, the places they live, the critical infrastructure they rely on, and their social, cultural, and economic well-being.” They focus on wildland urban interfaces… In 2023, nearly two-thirds of the territory’s residents were forced to evacuate due to encroaching wildfires, including near Yellowknife. The evacuation forced a reckoning with emergency preparedness across the territory, as climate change makes forest fire seasons worse and harder to predict. The guidelines say the intended goal is to standardize training for local wildland firefighters, and establish standards around payment for services, deployment and management of resources, and techniques for use in the field.

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Valhalla Wilderness Society makes case for three new parks in one of the ‘rarest ecosystems in the world’

By Timothy Schafer
Castanet
May 21, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

A West Kootenay-based environmental group is stepping up to call attention to that fact and to lobby for the creation of three new parks in one of the rarest ecosystems in the world. Valhalla Wilderness Society (VWS) has spent the last 50 years protecting important wilderness across the province but the focus has shifted in the last two decades to the inland temperate rainforest. The area receives less than half the protection of BC’s coastal temperate rainforest, said VWS wildlife biologist Amber Peters, despite its globally rare status. “Three park proposals of the inland temperate rainforest have been mapped to include the most biodiverse areas, considered ‘true rainforest,’ from the Quesnel Lake area to the south end of BC’s interior wetbelt.” The three proposed parks are the Selkirk Mountains ancient forest, Quesnel Lake wilderness and Rainbow-Jordan wilderness, representing ecosystems of globally significant biodiversity.

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Logging industry faces challenges following Searsmont fire

By Drew Peters
News Center Maine
May 21, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US East

Brian Bell

SEARSMONT, Maine — Support is growing across Maine for the Robbins family and workers injured in the May 16 fire and explosion at the Robbins Lumber mill, as investigators continue working to determine what caused the incident. The fire forced the family-owned mill in Searsmont to temporarily close, leaving logging contractors, carpenters, and other businesses that depend on Robbins Lumber facing difficult questions about what comes next. …Brian Bell, owner of Balance Forestry in Montville has supplied white pine logs to Robbins Lumber for more than a decade, said his relationship with the family has been strong since it began. Now, Bell said contractors who normally send wood to Robbins may have to look towards other mills. That comes with added trucking costs at a time when diesel prices and other expenses are already putting pressure on Maine’s logging industry. For Bell and many in the industry though, the emotional impact is even heavier than the financial uncertainty.

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Spain to launch biggest forest fire campaign after record losses last year, Sánchez says

By Lucia Blasco & Gavin Blackburn
Euronews
May 21, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: International

Spain is one of the southern European countries on the front line of climate change as higher average temperatures stoke heatwaves, droughts and forest fires. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presented what he called Spain’s biggest-ever campaign against forest fires on Thursday after deadly blazes devoured a record amount of land last year. Spain is one of the southern European countries on the front line of climate change as higher average temperatures stoke heatwaves, droughts and forest fires. The country sweltered through its hottest summer on record in 2025, when almost 4,000 square kilometres of land went up in smoke, the highest figure registered by the European Forest Fire Information System. “We will put in place all the resources” available to the government “to mitigate this emergency situation as much as possible and to prevent it happening again on this scale,” Sánchez said at the Torrejón airbase outside Madrid.

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International Day for Biological Diversity

By Environment and Climate Change Canada
PR Newswire
May 22, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: International

GATINEAU, QC – The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature, issued the following statement today: The world celebrates the International Day for Biological Diversity. This year’s theme is Acting Locally for Global Impact. In Canada this begins with recognizing that biological diversity is not only part of our identity, but also one of our greatest responsibilities. From forests and fresh water to coastlines and tundra, Canada holds a significant share of the planet’s remaining intact ecosystems. With 20% of the world’s fresh water, nearly a quarter of the boreal forest, and the longest coastline on Earth, what Canada does at home matters far beyond our borders. Protecting nature locally is not just an environmental choice; it is a global contribution. That is why on March 31, 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced A Force of Nature: Canada’s Strategy to Protect Nature with an investment of $3.8 billion. 

United Nations: International Day for Biological Diversity

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Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy

Carbon Markets Underestimate Risks U.S. Forests Face From Climate Change

By University of Utah
NewsWise
May 20, 2026
Category: Carbon, Climate & Bioenergy
Region: US West

William Anderegg

…Many corporate, national and state climate policies rely on forests’ ability to store carbon—often tracked and funded through a system of “carbon credits” issued to polluting industries in exchange for protecting and restoring forests. But when trees die suddenly—from wildfire, drought or insect infestation—vast amounts of greenhouse gases are released, exacerbating ongoing climate change. And the warming climate is accelerating this problem by making such disturbances more frequent and severe. New research led by University of Utah scientists in collaboration with international experts sought to determine the likelihood that forests will release their stored carbon over the next 100 years. Along the way, they documented how current carbon-credit systems fail to accurately account for that risk in U.S. forests, particularly the parched U.S. West. But the research points out ways this problem can be corrected, according to William Anderegg, senior author on the study published in Nature.

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Health & Safety

WorkSafeBC Newsletter for May 2026

WorkSafeBC
May 22, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada West

Highlights from the newsletter include:

  • Ask an expert video: Noise-cancelling earbuds aren’t the same as hearing protection: In our latest video, WorkSafeBC occupational audiologist Sasha Brown explains why noise-cancelling earbuds or headphones are not a substitute for proper hearing protection, and what employers and workers should know about reducing the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
  • All B.C. workers, regardless of their immigration status or term of work, are covered by WorkSafeBC insurance and health and safety provisions. If you employ workers from another country who are working temporarily in the province, they have the same rights as other B.C. workers.
  • Workers in roadside work zones face a serious risk of being struck by vehicles or mobile equipment. This WorkSafe Magazine article outlines how employers can help reduce the risk by assessing site-specific hazards, developing a traffic control plan, orienting workers, and updating plans as conditions change.

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Cases of Lyme disease in Montreal highest in more than 20 years

By Katrine Desautels
The Canadian Press in CTV News
May 21, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada, Canada East

MONTREAL — Montreal public health is warning of an uptick in Lyme disease in the city after officials recorded 161 cases in 2025. That’s the highest number of cases since 2003, when Lyme infections because a notifiable disease in Quebec. The tick-born disease is on the rise across the province, with 869 cases reported between Jan. 1 and Nov. 5, 2025. The Quebec government says the rise in tick-related infections could be explained by climate change, as warmer weather would allow ticks to survive more easily. Of the 161 cases reported in Montreal, the public health agency estimates that 38% were contracted within the city. Health officials say people who enjoy outdoor leisure activities should be careful in endemic areas. …The infectious diseases specialist says someone must come into contact with vegetation where ticks are found — tall grass, gardens, forests and woodlands. Early symptoms of Lyme disease include a circular rash around the bite mark. 

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Understanding and Preventing Combustible Dust Explosions

By Alex Ing
National Fire Protection Association
May 21, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: United States

Combustible dust is a significant yet often poorly understood industrial hazard. NFPA published its first-ever standard related to combustible dust, and the hazard has continued to claim lives and destroy property in the 100-plus years since… NFPA Journal reported in a 2023 article. Less than a decade later, a similar series of dust explosions would occur at the Didion Milling facility in Wisconsin, killing five and injuring 14, highlighting the ongoing risk that combustible dust represents. …Simply put, combustible dusts are created by finely divided solids. …A study published by the Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), the research affiliate of NFPA, found that dust collectors are where the majority of dust explosions occur. “The qualitative analyses showed that friction sparks and self-heating are the primary causes of ignition, whereas ineffective housekeeping and design problems of the dust collection system are the biggest contributing factors for the occurrence of the explosion events.”

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