Forestry

As Northern Ontario experiences some of the hottest temperatures on record, forest companies have their ears peeled to the regional weather reports from Environment Canada, hoping for rain.

It’s all forest fires and tough talk in the region’s lumber industry these days.

By KELLY LOUISEIZE LongLac-Companies interested in finding solutions to the looming labour shortage should look no further than the industry giants for direction. Buchanan Forest Products has made significant strides in First Nations partnerships.

Canada’s softwood producers are near the end of the precedent-setting trade fight, Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) president Jamie Lim says.

A new value-added mill in the Hearst area will begin producing furniture components for a major international furniture maker starting this fall. Industries LacWood Inc.

Ontario’s forest industry is moving to a new value-added economy, and while the sector is enduring some agonizing transitional pains, changes are inevitable, says Ontario’s natural resources minister.

A forestry stakeholders group might not have achieved total consensus on what ails Northern Ontario’s struggling forestry sector, but almost all agree Queen’s Park needs to act quickly to come to the industry’s aid.

Three Northern Ontario forestry companies have united with Aboriginal communities to offer youth a chance to gain insight into wood harvesting operations. Bowater Canada, Tembec and Weyerhaeuser in conjunction with Outland Reforestation Inc.

If nothing else, Lakehead University can see the forest for the degrees. The Thunder Bay school will be accepting students into its third doctorate-level program this September.

If a piece of machinery falls in the forest, does anybody hear? Or, if a piece of equipment is scheduled to work an eight-hour shift, how much time is spent actually operating? That is a timeless question a revolutionary new technology is helping to