Skilled labour shortage transforms old sawmills into training centres
by Gordon Hamilton – In Prince George, forest company Canfor has plans to convert its mothballed Rustad sawmill into a $10-million training centre for
Workplace rules on B.C. resource roads clarified
BC Government VICTORIA – An amendment to the occupational health and safety regulation under the Workers’ Compensation Act stipulates that resource roads are not
Innovative bioenergy facility at UBC
The University of British Columbia’s (UBC)Bioenergy Research and Demonstration Facility is one of six Canadian projects that were picked recently as some of the
Western forest products to upgrade sawmill
Work is set to begin on Western Forest Products’ $16-million project to upgrade its Saltair sawmill into largest single-line facility on B.C.’s coast. Spokeswoman Mackenzie
Provincial timber policy lacks relevant data
Part of the reason the Special Committee on Timber Supply could not reach a clear or intelligent decision was that the Campbell government had largely
Budworm ‘death by a thousand cuts’
A defoliating forest insect is building “almost in a circle around us,” threatening both logging values and backyard trees, a provincial entomologist based in
Change to permits for cutting timber from community forests will help harvest initiatives
The B.C. government is introducing a single cutting permit procedure to make it easier for local governments, First Nations and other non-commercial organizations throughout the
BEYOND THE BEETLE: A mid-term timber supply action plan HFHC Coordinator response
The recently released Mid-Term Timber Supply Action Plan by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) is disappointing at best and sends
One Cutting Permit over a Community Forest Implemented
Success for Community Forest Agreement Cutting Permit (CP) Streamlining The Deputy Minister has approved the implementation of the “One CP for CFAs” policy. The one CP
UBC offers world’s largest forestry scholarship
The University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Forestry is offering the world’s largest scholarship for forestry research to attract top doctoral students. The Future Forests
BC sawmillls finally start to recover
by Gordon Hamilton – Rebound in U.S. housing starts a big factor, along with continued business from China. After half a decade of depression, British
Report claims forest certification monopoly driving up prices
Forest certification is becoming an important tool in balancing resource sustainability and economic viability, but there is growing confusion in the marketplace over certification standards
Builders say talks on softwood lumber should remain outside Asia-Pacific trade deal
Homebuilders don’t want a lumber agreement between the United States and Canada to become part of negotiations on an Asia-Pacific trade deal. The National Association
Forest Practices Board recognizes National Forest Week
Forest Practices board chair Al Gorley issued the following statement today: “This is National Forest Week in Canada. British Columbia has some of the most
COFI President Shares Optimism
It was an optimistic John Allan who met with members of the Prince George media this morning to talk about all things forestry including the
Board to audit two community forests in the Robson Valley
The Forest Practices Board will audit the forest practices of the McBride Community Forest Corporation and the Valemount Community Forest Company Ltd., starting Monday,
NDP hoped for ‘something…more definitive’
The New Democratic Party forests critic Norm Macdonald says he is encouraged by Hampton Affiliates announcement Monday that the company intends to rebuild Babine Forest
Province finds more wood for Babine
In order to make the new Babine Forest Products mill a go, the provincial government had to rework the forest licenses in the region. Jobs,
Timber committee calls for scientific approach
…According to Cariboo North Independent MLA Bob Simpson, more needs to be done. “These recommendations will not support sustainable change,” he said in a
MLAs aren’t facing the truth: B.C. forests are tapped out
By Anthony Britneff, Ben Parfitt Since May, when a special committee of the legislature was appointed to address a looming “timber supply” crisis, questions