National Hardwood Magazine - May 2023

Several forestry companies who operate their businesses
in Northern Ontario agreed that protections were
needed for the endangered Black Ash species, but expressed
concerns regarding the economic challenges
that the proposal could bring to local sawmills and logging
operations. They said forestry businesses already
face enough barriers and challenges, and with the proposal,
it could make things harder for them, and become
significantly less efficient. With wood supply constraints
to surrounding mills, the mills directly, and also indirectly,
employ a lot of people in the district. They would like the
economic impact to be considered
in the current proposal and what it
would be bringing. The policy’s impact
on the mills would hinder bush
operations from their ability to cut
logs efficiently and effectively, thereby
causing a potential increase in
the cost of logs to offset operation
costs. The potential impact is only
theoretical until the final protection
policy is put in place, they noted.
They are hoping for a gentler policy
that takes in all the considerations,
rather than a blanket policy for all. n
Whitewood logs are being sawn quickly to avoid stain
damage. Markets for the regionally important Hard Maple
are weak and there is ample production, even an
oversupply of this species with price pushback being experienced.
Soft Maple is also not performing well, although it is
moving better than Hard Maple at present but more effort
is required to generate orders.
There has been an improvement in business for Oak
residential flooring manufacturers since the beginning of
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QUEBEC Continued from page 12
C
being slightly higher for some common
grade items.
M
Y
Basswood wholesalers and end
CM
users are restricting their purchases
MY
as demand for this species is slow.
It is noted that supplies are ample to
CY
meet demand, with prices trending CMY
lower.
K
Cherry use is not very strong both
here and in the U.S. border states by
regular end users such as the flooring,
furniture, moulding and millwork
and cabinet sectors. Most sales are
to the Chinese market with sales reported
as holding up well since the
beginning of the year.
Hickory is selling well with activity
reported as decent, while some
in the industry are experiencing
slower business, with export sales
low. Inventories have pretty much
remained the same as sawmill production
is low.
With warmer weather conditions,
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MAY 2023 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 75