BC Ministers Donaldson and Ralston announced the recipients of monies totalling $7.8 million to promote the use of BC wood overseas, advance wood building systems and products, and expand global markets. Also at COFI: federal Minister Marc Garneau is bullish on NAFTA and softwood lumber; Duncan Davies (Interfor) says it “will boil down to goodwill between Trump and Trudeau”; and columnist Neil Godbout says despite its problems, the sector continues to turn “bitter lemons into sweet lemonade.” 

In other news: ERA’s Kevin Mason explains why lumber prices are at 5-year highs (video); BC Premier Horgan speaks to the importance of social licence in Merritt; Wildfire forecasters predict trouble for BC this year; and biomass plant openings are celebrated in California and New Mexico.

Finally, giving millennials what they want (tons of wood) in Austin, and timber makes its debut in Europe’s first eco-mosque.

–Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog Editor