Fresh from securing a new mandate, the Softwood Lumber Board announced its plans for the next 5 years as well as the pending retirement of CEO Steve Lovett and appointment of Cees de Jager to take his place. In post-G7 Business news: Maine’s senator offers soothing words; the New York Times says Trudeau’s challenge is managing Trump and domestic politics; and a feature story on how Trump’s lumber tariffs have helped increase US home prices. 

Companies making headlines today include:

• Conifex is raising money to finance their US mill purchases
• West Fraser declares a dividend and plans to purchase back some of its shares
• Canfor names former Surrey mayor Dianne Watts to its Board of Directors
• TimberWest celebrates safety, while others focus on their past pension fund sales

Elsewhere: APA on formaldehyde rules and shear walls; COFI on grading; the fire service on tall wood; and FPInnovations/NRCan on research. Finally; extreme fire danger forces another national forest to close—the San Juan National Forest officials in southwestern Colorado.

–Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor