Daily News for January 26, 2026

Today’s Takeaway

Carney says Canada not pursuing free trade deal with China as Trump threatens 100% tariffs

The Tree Frog Forestry News
January 26, 2026
Category: Today's Takeaway

Prime Minister Carney says Canada is not pursuing a free trade deal with China, as President Trump threatens 100% tariffs. In other Business news: BC Premier Eby said there are no quick fixes for forestry; Western Forest Products extends its Chemainus mill curtailment; Atli Resources’ Jonathan Lok reacts to BC chip mill closure; and Ontario workers call for action on the Ear Falls and Ignace sawmill closures

In Forestry news: a 60-year trend analysis points to fewer fires but greater destruction in Canada’s forests; Drax launches a biomass tracker to boost fibre transparency; New Mexico lawmakers seek exemption from the Roadless Rule rollback; and Minnesota releases its annual forest health report. Meanwhile: after 10 years Frank Varga is stepping down at Burns Lake Community Forest; and Revelstoke Community Forest’s Kevin Bollefer addresses stigma around cutting blocks.

Finally, WorkSafeBC updates measures to manage all types of combustible dusts.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor

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Business & Politics

Carney says Canada not pursuing free trade deal with China as Trump threatens 100% tariffs

By Lim Hui Jie
CNBC News
January 25, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

Canada has “no intention” of pursuing a free trade deal with China, Prime Minister Carney said, after US President Trump threatened to slap punitive tariffs on Ottawa. Carney said that the country respects its obligations under the Canada-US-Mexico trade agreement, known as CUSMA in Canada and the USMCA in the US, and will not pursue a free trade agreement without notifying the other two parties. Carney’s remarks come after Trump threatened to put a 100% tariff on Canadian exports if Ottawa “makes a deal” with Beijing. …Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also echoed Trump’s sentiments on Canada and China, saying that the UScould not “let Canada become an opening that the Chinese pour their cheap goods into the US.” …Carney said: “What we have done with China is to rectify some issues that have developed in the last couple of years,” adding that the deal was “entirely consistent with CUSMA.”

Related coverage:

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Atli Resources CEO reacts to chip mill closure

By Sage Daniels
My Campbell River Now
January 23, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

Jonathan Lok

The Atli chip plant in Beaver Cove will close in March, significantly affecting its workers and their families. Atli Resources CEO Jonathan Lok, whose company is the majority owner, said the 10 direct employees at the facility, as well as contractors and tertiary suppliers, will feel the impact of the closure. “We’ve been working with the North Island Employment Foundation Society, WorkBC and Service Canada to ensure that many of the conventional employee supports during times of transition are available and shared with employees,” Lok said. “They’ve all been very supportive.” …Lok said the company is focused on determining next steps. “We need to do right by our staff. We want to ensure our place in this community and not drag something out during this uncertain time. It’s bad news, but we don’t think it’s the end of the road by any means,” he said. He added the company continues to explore future options.

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Curtailment of Chemainus sawmill will continue through 2026

By Robert Barron
Nanaimo Bulletin
January 23, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

The curtailment of the Chemainus sawmill will continue through to at least the end of 2026, Western Forest Products announced on Jan. 23. WFP spokesperson Babita Khunkhun said the Chemainus mill, which has been curtailed since June, continues to face persistently weak market demand and ongoing log supply challenges that do not support the economic operation of the mill. She said these conditions are not expected to change in the near term at the mill, which employs approximately 150 workers when in operation. “We are also implementing short-term curtailments at our Saltair and Ladysmith sawmills,” Khunkhun said. …“Where possible, we will work with employees to facilitate employment opportunities at other locations,” she said. …“Beginning in February, the Ladysmith sawmill plans to take a minimum two-week operating curtailment and the Saltair sawmill plans to take a two-week operating curtailment. The curtailments are in response to persistently weak market conditions.

In related coverage:

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‘No quick fixes’: David Eby talks economic progress, but not for crippled forestry sector

By Vaughn Palmer
Vancouver Sun
January 23, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

David Eby

VICTORIA — Premier David Eby went all in at the Northern Resource Forum in Prince George this week, starting with a progress report on the commitments he made there in 2025. …On mining, LNG and electricity development, the premier could and did cite evidence of progress. Much less so on forestry, which Eby himself acknowledged as “the hardest challenge” facing the NDP government. …He’d mandated Forest Minister Ravi Parmar “to work toward a harvest of 45 million cubic metres per year.” …The most recent update from the government had the harvest going in the opposite direction, from 30 MCU down to 29. …He cited the landscape plan for the Nimpkish Valley near Port McNeill on northern Vancouver Island, the first of 15 such plans to be completed by the government. Eby had barely finished the victory lap when word came of another mill closure in that very region. …Parmar, an optimist if nothing else, says Crofton’s fate can be reversed.

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Worker equity touted as part of solution to mill shutdowns

By Mike Stimpson
North West Ontario News Watch
January 23, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada East

KENORA — Ontario New Democrats and union leaders say government should find ways to keep mills in Ear Falls, Ignace and elsewhere open, but with more worker involvement. “The bottom line is that when things are run on the corporate bottom lines only, communities get left behind, workers lose jobs, profits go out and the problems stay in the community,” said Luke Hildebrand, president of the NDP’s Kenora–Rainy River constituency association. “So the only long-term solution is workers having a stake in the future and not just a paycheque.” Hildebrand noted a petition calling on governments to “take immediate action to reopen the Ear Falls sawmill and stop the shutdown of Ignace sawmill” has gathered about 300 signatures. It also calls for establishment of a “forestry job protection task force,” development of “a unified provincial–federal strategy to ensure that Canadian lumber is used in Canadian homes” and support for worker equity in mills.

Related coverage:

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Finance & Economics

US Consumer Sentiment rose marginally in January

The University of Michigan
January 23, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Consumer sentiment lifted about 3.5 index points this month, with minor gains seen across all index components. While the overall improvement was small, it was broad based, seen across the income distribution, educational attainment, older and younger consumers, and Republicans and Democrats alike. However, national sentiment remains more than 20% below a year ago, as consumers continue to report pressures on their purchasing power stemming from high prices and the prospect of weakening labor markets. …Year-ahead inflation expectations fell back to 4.0% this month. This is the lowest reading since January 2025 but remains well above that month’s 3.3%. Long-run inflation expectations inched up from 3.2% last month to 3.3% this month. 

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

The life cycle of a building: Showcasing material reuse

By Liam Otten
Washington University in St. Louis
January 23, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: United States, US East

ST. LOUIS — What is the life cycle of a building? Each year, in the United States, new home construction accounts for 50 million tons of carbon emissions. The majority stem from harvesting, manufacturing and transporting building materials — from lumber and masonry to glass and tile to roofing and mechanical systems. But what happens at the end of the cycle? When a building is no longer inhabitable or needed, what happens to all the energy invested in those materials? “It’s demolished,” Hongxi Yin said. “It goes to the landfill.” Yin, an expert on sustainable construction, is the InCEES professor in advanced building systems and architectural design in the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. Over the last decade, he has led a series of research studios exploring ways to improve building efficiency, supply chains and construction processes. 

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Third International Young Scientist Forum Highlights Bamboo-Based Climate Solutions

By Chunyu Pan
UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship
January 22, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

The Third International Young Scientist Forum for Climate Change – Sustainable Development through Bamboo Resources was held in December, 2025 in a hybrid format, bringing together more than 400 participants from 66 countries across all continents. Jointly organized by the UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, Zhejiang A&F University, and International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, the Forum provided an international platform for early-career researchers to exchange science, policy insights, and practical experiences related to bamboo-based climate solutions. Robert Kozak, Dean of UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship opened the forum, emphasizing the urgent need for science-based, collaborative solutions to address climate change and highlighted bamboo’s unique role in carbon sequestration, material substitution, and sustainable livelihoods. …John Innes, Dean Emeritus at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, delivered a keynote address titled Sustainable Management of Bamboo Resources.

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10 Top Trending Eco-Friendly Building Materials in 2026

By Aisha Reynolds
Editorialge.com
January 25, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

The construction world changes fast in 2026. Builders face pressure to cut carbon emissions and waste. Homeowners want homes that save energy and last long. Eco-friendly building materials lead this shift. They use less energy to make and install. This list covers the top 10 trends now. In 2026, trends show a rise in bio-based and low-carbon options. Rules push for net-zero buildings. This shift makes green materials key for new projects. Demand grows fast as costs fall. Homeowners love the natural look too. These picks fit both small homes and big offices. They improve air quality inside. Long-term savings beat first costs. …1. Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) …2. Hempcrete …3. Mycelium Composites …4. Recycled Plastic Bricks and Lumber …5. Green Concrete …6. Bamboo …7. Straw Bales …8. Rammed Earth …9. Self-Healing Concrete …10. Cork Insulation

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Forestry

Canada’s wildfire paradox: fewer fires, greater destruction highlighted in new analysis

By Colin Butler
CBC News
January 25, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

Canada’s wildfire seasons are growing longer, larger and more destructive, according to a six-decade analysis of fire records by the federal government’s Canadian Forest Service. The study shows the trend isn’t being driven by more frequent fires but by a smaller number of increasingly large wildfires that are burning more land than in the past, reinforcing a trend federal scientists first identified years ago. In 2019, fire scientists with Natural Resources Canada published a study that suggested wildfire activity across the country had increased steadily since the mid-20th century, driven by rising temperatures and longer fire seasons. …The research found that the area burned from wildfires continues to rise across nearly all Canadian eco-zones, even in the Pacific Northwest and Atlantic Canada regions. Both were once considered lower risk because of wetter conditions but are now showing flat or increasing fire trends.

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A walk in the woods with Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation

By Evert Lindquist
The Revelstoke Review
January 23, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

Kevin Bollefer

Kevin Bollefer [has worked] for the Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation (RCFC) since 2007, and general manager since 2023. He and his staff oversee 120,000 hectares of land, including 69,000 ha of forest. This tenure, known as Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 56, was bought by the City of Revelstoke in 1993, when RCFC was formed. The aim was for the Revelstoke community to regain control of local timber resources, not just for its economy, but also for the improvement of forest management and environmental protection. In October, Black Press Media joined Bollefer for a walk in the woods to learn about the range of forest management practices RCFC uses to keep these ecosystems, resource extraction and the future of Revelstoke’s sawmills all sustainable. …Bollefer’s goal is to help keep Downie Timber’s mills operating, while balancing the environmental needs and values of forestry, old-growth and threatened species such as caribou.

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BC’s forestry industry and the myth of momentum

By James Steidle
Prince George Citizen
January 23, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

It’s pretty bold to make the theme of this year’s BC Natural Resources Forum “momentum for continued growth.” What growth are we continuing? We’ve lost a bunch more mills here in the north and the industry is on the ropes with Donald Trump’s tariffs. If anything the momentum has been in the opposite direction. The momentum is heading towards catastrophic decline. At least with forestry. And we can’t let that happen. We need the pulp mills in Prince George and we need our forest industry. …We need to rethink what we are doing and find a way to do things better — and cheaper. …One direction we can move in is we start thinning the plantations close to town. …Unfortunately, BC Timber Sales is not committed to this idea. …As far as anyone can tell, they believe thinning will reduce the Annual Allowable Cut.

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Conservation groups fundraising in hopes of purchasing Vancouver Island marsh

By Claire Palmer
CBC News
January 23, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada West

©HamiltonMarshFB

The deadline for the Regional District of Nanaimo to complete a major land acquisition to create a conservation site just north of the city is quickly approaching, with a massive fundraising effort underway to facilitate the purchase. The Hamilton Marsh is a 360-acre parcel of land, located along Highway 4, just north of Nanaimo, B.C., near the Town of Qualicum Beach. The wetlands are a major part of the French Creek watershed and is home to over 120 species of birds. Owned by Island Timberlands and managed by Mosaic Forest Management, the regional district struck a conditional agreement to purchase the full marsh site for $30 million in September 2025, with a requirement to secure $7.5 million of external funding by the end of January this year.

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Thompson-Nicola Regional District renews five-year contract for invasive plant management

By Michael Potestio
Castanet
January 25, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

KAMLOOPS, BC — The Thompson-Nicola Regional District board of directors handed out a new, five-year contract for invasive plant management throughout the TNRD. At its regular meeting last Thursday, the board voted unanimously in favour of handing the contract to Spectrum Resource Group at an estimated contract value of $1,750,000 over the term. The previous five-year pact expired at the end of 2025 and a request for quote was issued last fall, yielding a number of proposals for the five invasive plants management regions the TNRD is responsible for — Cache Creek, Clearwater, Clinton, Kamloops and Merritt. …The regional district’s invasive plant program has been receiving annual grants and funding from the Ministry of Forests, Ministry of Transportation and Transit, Ministry of Environment and BC Parks, FortisBC, and BC Hydro to carry out management of invasive plants on their respective jurisdictions.

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Frank Varga to depart Burns Lake Community Forest after nearly a decade of leadership

By Quinn Bender
Burns Lake Lakes District News
January 23, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

Frank Varga

After serving nine years and six months as general manager of Burns Lake Community Forest and COMFOR Management Services Ltd., Frank Varga will step down from the role next month. …Since taking the helm, Varga has led a wide range of initiatives focused on expanding sustainable forestry, boosting wildfire resilience, and strengthening community engagement. Under his leadership, the organization secured more than $4 million in funding for wildfire mitigation, habitat restoration, and public access projects. …He credited the achievements to those around him. “The team that I have built accomplished so much together,” he wrote, highlighting projects such as the firewood program, youth education efforts, and the annual Burns Lake Forest Open House and BBQ. …He described the forest as “not just a managed resource, but a true community treasure,” made possible by the passion of staff, the guidance of board members, the generosity of volunteers, and broad community support.

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Drax launches new Biomass Tracker to boost transparency across biomass supply chain

Drax Group Inc.
January 26, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States

Drax launched its Biomass Tracker, a new digital tool that provides greater visibility into the journey our woody biomass takes through the company’s global supply chain. The interactive tool shows the countries and states where Drax sources its biomass, the types of fibre used in Drax’s own woody biomass, how it is transported, and the carbon associated with each stage of its journey to Drax Power Station or to third-party customers. It also includes data on independent sustainability certifications, helping to strengthen accountability across the sector. The Biomass Tracker uses quarterly real-world data presented through an interactive Sankey diagram, allowing users to explore each stage of the supply chain from fibre origin (for Drax-own pellets), pelletising to transport, storage and use. …The tool is available to access on the Drax website.

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Delegation wants Trump administration to exempt New Mexico from proposed rollback of Roadless Rule

Senator Martin Heinrich
January 23, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

Martin Heinrich

All five members of New Mexico’s all-Democratic Congressional delegation have signed on to a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins that requests the state be excluded from the Trump administration’s proposed repeal of the so-called Roadless Rule. The 24-year-old Roadless Area Conservation Rule … includes about 1.6 million acres of land in New Mexico, which impacts all five of the state’s national forests. However, the Gila National Forest has the most protected acreage. Rollins … contends the rule change will give state and local experts the freedom to make decisions about forest management and allow the logging industry to grow. New Mexico’s Congressional delegation sent a letter to Rollins on Sept. 19, after three weeks of public comment ended. The delegation asked the secretary to exclude New Mexico from the rollback, citing negative impacts to the state’s vulnerability to wildfires, public safety and the outdoor recreation economy.

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Why Northern Wisconsin logging deserves a chance to be dominant again

By Paul Schecklman
Northwoods Policy Network
January 22, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: US East

…Wisconsin’s woods are large, and they are healthy. Almost 40% of Wisconsin’s landscape is covered in forests, roughly 17 million acres. Further, our annual growth of forestland is double the volume we remove. This highlights the sustainability of forestry practices and the unrealized capacity to do more. Today, we cannot allow forests to renew themselves with fires. This requires active management to maintain productive forests. Forests that are growing are healthy while over-mature forests benefit no one. Our forests require management to remain healthy, reduce risk of forest fire, and continue providing exceptional habitat for wildlife. Wisconsin’s loggers and forestry industry have built and sustained whole communities and the families that inhabit them. Forestry, wood, and paper industries have deep roots in our rural economy and culture. A healthy forest industry is critical to our ability to sustain resilient forests, recreation, and wildlife habitat that underwrites our massive outdoor industry.

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Minnesota Department of Natural Resources releases annual forest health report

By Andrew Weeks
Grand Forks Herald
January 24, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: US East

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources aerially surveyed more than 13.5 million acres last year, checking for forest damage across the state’s forestland. Its findings are included in the recently released 2025 Forest Health Annual Report. Brian Schwingle, forest health program coordinator, said the annual survey and report is important because it tracks trends and reveals what is impacting trees, allowing the managers to make decisions for healthier, more resilient forests. “The two biggest tree health stories in 2025 in Minnesota were the derecho, the big blowdown in Bemidji, and the three big wildfires in northeast Minnesota in May,” he said, noting prior spruce budworm damage helped fuel the fires. In July, a derecho damaged 11,600 acres in and around Bemidji. Derecho, a Spanish word for straight, is a widespread, straight-line windstorm associated with a band of fast-moving thunderstorms. They can leave serious damage in their wake.

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Health & Safety

New combustible dust rules to go into effect at B.C. workplaces, 14 years after deadly explosions

By Akshay Kulkarni
CBC News
January 23, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada, Canada West

More robust rules are coming to regulate combustible dust in B.C. workplaces, more than 14 years after two separate deadly explosions in northern B.C. sawmills were fueled by wood dust. In 2012, the explosions in Burns Lake and Prince George led to four deaths and over 40 injuries at the Babine Forest Products and Lakeland Mills. The explosions were fueled by wood dust dispersed in the air, according to WorkSafeBC reports. …WorkSafeBC, the province’s workplace regulator, passed amendments to its regulations in November 2025 that it says will require employers to “implement more robust measures to control and manage the accumulation of all types of combustible dusts.” …”The fact that it took 14 years to get to this point, from our point of view … it is an excessive amount of time to get here, we believe,” Ed Kent, the health safety environment co-ordinator for USW District 3 added.

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