Tag Archives: Quebec

The increasing fire danger rating in Quebec has led to an open fire ban across the entire province.

A dozen forest fires are burning across the province currently.  167 fires have burned in the province this year so far.

No major fires have been reported. The largest fire, in Pontiac in the Gatineau region, covers about 10 hectares.

The majority of the fires have been started by residents and farmers clearing fields, and burning brush and debris.

To keep up to date with the current forest fire conditions across the country, bookmark our “Forest Fire Links” page.

Read more:
Open fires banned as forest fires burn across Quebec (CBC)

The Government of Canada has announced 2 financial contributions in support of Quebec‘s forestry industry.

The support is through the Canada Economic Development’s Quebec Economic Development Program

The non refundable grants are:

• $3,759,920 for FPInnovations
• $1,000,000 forQuebec Wood Export Bureau

“The Government of Canada supports Quebec forest industry aid organizations that, like FPInnovations and the Quebec Wood Export Bureau, promote innovation and market development and contribute to the diversification of the economy and job creation,” said Minister Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. “The forestry industry is an economic sector that represents nearly 60,000 jobs in Quebec and it is crucial to support it,” he added.

FPInnovations

FPInnovations is a not-for-profit research centre that helps the Canadian forest industry develop innovative solutions based on the unique attributes of Canada’s forest resources.

FPInnovations will use the funding from Canada Economic Development to acquire leading-edge equipment and design new products. Through this project, the research centre will help revitalize the Quebec forestry industry. It will also be able to enhance its research and development services as well as its production methods for the benefit of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in this sector.

Quebec Wood Export Bureau

The Quebec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote value-added wood products from Quebec to new markets. It represents more than 200 exporting firms in nine forestry sectors.

QWEB will use the funds from Canada Economic Development to take part in trade fairs, exhibitions and prospecting missions, and to retain its employees.

Source: Government of Canada

The Le Centre de recherche, de développement et de transfert technologique acéricole du Québec (Le Centre ACER) and the Fédération des Producteurs Acéricoles du Québec (FPAQ) will receive up to $1.7 million from the federal Agricultural Innovation Program (AIP) to research new market opportunities and develop a quality inspection system for Canadian maple products.

For five years, Quebec’s Maple Research Centre has been developing a machine that could taste test the product.

Human taste testers try sampling an average of 250 barrels of syrup a day. These machines would do the work for them by calculating how certain compounds in the syrup react to light.

Depending on results, the new technology will determine if sugar has been added to the syrup or if there are taste defects in the batch.

“Canadian maple syrup is acknowledged as the best in the world,” said Minister of Agriculture Christian Paradis, ”Our Government’s investment will help guarantee the quality and reputation of 100 per cent Canadian maple syrup and position the industry to tap new markets.”

Most of the federal grant will be used for research to help determine the exact compounds of maple syrup.

Geneviève Béland, member of the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers [FQMSP], said research shows that maple products have anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals. But researchers believe the golden treat may have other health advantages.

If these benefits are discovered, the FQMSP said it would recommend using maple sugar in special diets, such as those of athletes and some diabetics.

Read more:
Feds grant $1.7M to maple syrup research – New technology could replace taste testers (CBC)

Quebec‘s new 2012-2017 Forest Sector Transformation Strategy was unveiled Monday by the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF).

The Strategy aims to adapt and strengthen the province’s forest sector by diversification, innovation, and adaptation.  The Strategy recognizes that markets are changing at a rapid pace and Quebec’s forest industry is at a race against time to compete against competitors that adapt quickly to new realities.

Over the 2012-2017 timespan, the Government of Quebec has earmarked $268 million to implement the Strategy.

The full version of the 2012-2017 Strategy to transform the forest products industry in Quebec is available at the following address: www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/fr/forets/strategie-2012-2017 (French only).

FPInnovations Reaction

“We welcome the fact that the Strategy is based on the scientific and technical advances that have been made over the last few years. It also proposes an approach that focuses on developing innovative wood-based products,” says Pierre Lapointe, President and Chief Executive Officer at FPInnovations.

Through its unique innovative management system and research and development in the field of wood products manufacturing, FPInnovations sees a number of very promising ways to create new products and increase the use of wood in residential and non-residential construction. After a series of outstanding successes, such as nanocrystalline cellulose, FPInnovations and its industry members are about to develop a range of physical and chemical wood components that will enable so-far unexplored uses.

The Québec government strategy is also aimed at revitalizing the hardwood-forest sector, through the deployment of a program aligned with FPInnovations’ Hardwood Research Initiative.

The MRNF has granted FPInnovations $5.5 million this year under its biorefinery and demonstration plant program. The money will be used to set up premanufacturing facilities, which will demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of new biomaterials and renewable, ecological bioproducts made from forest fibre.

FPInnovations’ project is part of the measures announced by the Government of Québec to increase the competitiveness of Québec companies on traditional markets and gain a foothold in industries as diverse as transportation, aerospace, pharmaceutics, medical supplies, bioplastics and food packaging.

“Our industrial members are targeting high-value-added products that will give them an edge over the international competition,” says Pierre Lapointe. “The new strategy is a serious nudge in the right direction, as it spurs the competitiveness of the traditional forest industry and encourages swifter transformation of the sector through innovation. FPInnovations will continue to be closely involved in these developments, which is why we are in favour of the major technological challenges launched by the Québec government’s initiative.”

The Algonquins of Barriere Lake in the province of Quebec have issued a press release saying Resolute Forest Products began cutting last Tuesday on land of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake without proper community consultation or consent.

The logging is taking place near Poigan Bay, Quebec, on land that includes sacred grounds and important moose habitat, according to community spokesperson Norman Matchewan.

In a letter sent to Premier Charest on July 4, elder Gabriel Wawatie states: “As one of the main harvesters, I was not properly consulted nor provided a written consent to this logging within our territory.”

Despite the lack of consultation, the Ministry of Natural Resources office in Maniwaki issued permits for the logging to take place.

Wawatie’s letter continues: “This clearly demonstrates your ministry’s lack of respect of the highest court ruling on the duty to consult and accommodate First Nations,” referring to the Supreme Court ruling on Haida Nation vs. British Columbia Ministry of Forests.

“Therefore we are requesting that you cease logging operations in our territory.”

Last month, in a recent provincial court case, the same forestry company (Resolute Forest Products, formerly known as Abitibi Bowater) attempted to sue one of the youth leaders of Barriere Lake, Norman Matchewan. Vincent Larin, from the Maniwaki Ministry of Natural Resources office, issued two cutting permits for the same logging site (cutting block) in Barriere Lake territory that also included sacred sites. Fortunately, the forestry company lost their court case when the foreman contradicted his original statement and got caught lying on the stand.

In recent years, the community of Barriere Lake has resisted numerous resource extraction projects slated for their land. Most recently, members of the community confronted mining company Copper One at the company’s AGM in Montreal, opposing their mining exploration on Barriere Lake territory.

Source: Algonquins of Barriere Lake

Today the Government of Canada made two announcements through the Transformative Technology – Pilot Scale Demonstration Program in Quebec.

• Tembec in Temiscaming, Quebec, is receiving $3.5 million in a joint project with the Government of Quebec to develop innovative wood products made of cellulosic composites.
• Lauzon Planchers de bois exclusifs in Saint-Norbert, Quebec, will receive $390,000 to demonstrate a new technology that can increase the surface hardness and durability of hardwood flooring through the application and polymerization of resins.

The objective of the TTP-PSD is to demonstrate the feasibility of new forest products technologies in pilot-scale demonstration in industrial settings.

Source: Government of Canada

Cascades is continuing to consolidate its operations, by announcing the closure of its Norampac plant in Le Gardeur, Quebec.

The Le Gardeur plant is specialized in the conversion of corrugated products, and has annual revenues of $8 million.

In preparation for this closure, the plant’s operations will be redirected progressively towards the other Norampac Québec based plants that already serve the greater Montreal region.

Nearly 50 employees will be affected by this closure that will be effective before the end of 2011.

“The decision to cease operations at the Le Gardeur plant can be explained by the necessity to continue the consolidation of our Québec operations. In fact, the demand in the Canadian corrugated industry has been affected by unfavorable economic conditions for the past few years and it is imperative that we make the adjustments to take into account this new reality. This initiative will therefore allow us to optimize our production in the province, reduce our costs, improve our profitability, while continuing to offer quality services to our customers”, said Marc-André Dépin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norampac.

In order to help employees affected by this closure, Norampac has prepared a relocation program throughout its other facilities and will offer assistance regarding employment searches.

Source: Cascades

Cascades has recently added new deinking equipment to their Breakeyville, Quebec plant, and the cost of $3.7 million.

Strategically focused on producing deinked kraft pulp of the highest quality, this strategic investment will drive improvements in the quality of Cascades’ fine papers, while also protecting jobs.

Started in 2010, this initiative required the addition of several types of equipment, including a flotation cell, washers/thickeners, a disperser and a clarifier, and it also involved the expansion of the building located in Breakeyville (Quebec).

Committed to sustainable development, Cascades took its focus on recovery to a whole new level by sourcing equipment from various plants. Alain Lemaire, President and CEO of Cascades, said, “This investment shows our commitment to maintaining our competitive edge in a down economy and challenging market situation. We believe that innovation is the key to our company’s growth.”

As a result of this investment, pulp quality has greatly improved. Visible dirt and glue residue have each decreased 50%, while the whiteness has slightly increased. “We consider this to be a very significant benefit, especially as the quality of raw materials – waste paper to be recycled – is declining more and more. We believe this investment will allow us to remain competitive in continuing to offer high quality recycled products,” said Langevin.

Since 1985, the Breakey Fibres mill has specialized in the manufacture of recycled deinked kraft pulp, mainly used in the production of Cascades’ fine papers, such as the Rolland Enviro100 family of products.

Source: Cascades

Tembec is receiving a loan for $75 million from the Quebec Government – through Investissement Quebec – to upgrade a boiler at their mill in Temiscaming.

The money will be used to upgrade the energy efficiency of the mill’s boilers. The project details are scarce, but are expected to be finalized and announced in a few months.

“We were looking at some investment in the Temiscaming plant but the details are not completed and that’s why we’re not ready at this time to really be more specific,” vice-president, communications Linda Coates.

The funding was announced today in the provincial government’s Gazette.

Read more:
Tembec secures $75 million Quebec government loan to upgrade Temiscaming boilers (The Canadian Press)

Domtar Corporation has reached a settlement in its dispute with the City of Windsor regarding the tax evaluation of Domtar’s Windsor mill.

The agreement between the two parties is based on application of the Court of Québec judgment regarding the 2006-2007-2008 roll. The judgment by the Administrative Tribunal of Québec ratifies the agreement between the parties, to wit, to apply to the Court of Québec judgment of September 27, 2010 to the 2009-2010-2011 roll.

In October 2010, Domtar informed the municipality that it wished to come to an agreement. “We are satisfied with the work done by the experts on both sides to apply the clauses in the judgment on the 2009-2010-2011 roll and pleased that the tribunal has ratified our agreement. We can now turn the page and continue our efforts to position the mill for the future,” said Martin Lorrion, Vice-President, Operations – Domtar Region 1.

Following the settlement, Domtar withdrew its originating motion for judicial review before the Québec Superior Court for the 2006-2007-2008 roll.

Source: Domtar