Forestry

With so much wood in its backyard, and so many opportunities presented by new industries, Iroquois Falls has taken its first step toward becoming a leading community in value-added wood products.

Domtar has ceased all of its operations in Sault Ste. Marie. Domtar made the announcement Aug. 26 that it would be shutting down planing and drying operations at the end of October. The move affects 58 jobs.

Although news of more layoffs in the forestry sector was announced in Atikokan, the small community of 2,000, located about 150 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, is looking for new opportunities. On Aug. 15, Proboard Ltd.

Making a move from dimensional lumber producer to value-added wood product manufacturer is not that big of an adjustment for Ontario’s wood industry, says a consultant. It is all a question of attitude, Peter Woodbridge says.

One battle may have been won, but the softwood lumber war is far from over, as those closest to Canada’s lumber industry will attest. The latest victory came on Aug.

Profit margins may appear to be on a downslide for some larger publicly-traded forestry companies, but one Laurentian University economics professor disputes the rationale companies are using to initiate shutdowns.

It does not matter which sector of Northern Ontario’s wood industry one is looking at; it is a tough time to be making a living from Ontario’s forests.

Effective Oct. 11, 330 people in Dryden will be out of work. Weyerhaeuser has announced it is permanently closing its Dryden sawmill and reducing the workforce at its pulp and paper facility due to market conditions.

Tembec has kept its word on a promise made in November of last year. The company announced July 18 plans to start up operation at its Kenogami mill near Kirkland Lake.

Biologists and foresters in Sault Ste. Marie are experimenting this summer with some new high-resolution airborne photographic equipment as a possible new, forest management tool.