October 25, 2026

CANADA — ONTARIO / PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENT

Chapleau heat venture plans a new market for sawmill residues

Chapleau Cree First Nation and Commercial Bioenergy have formed Chapleau District Heating Company Inc. The venture plans a 3-megawatt thermal plant using residual wood from GreenFirst’s Chapleau sawmill to heat institutional buildings in the northern Ontario community.

The announcement, dated October 21 and posted October 23, describes a for-profit utility that would sell heat by the kilowatt-hour. Its proposed district system would connect local wood supply with buildings now heated by fossil fuels.

The partners intend to own and operate the plant and explore further projects in Chapleau Cree First Nation and the neighbouring township. The release provides no construction budget, heat tariff, commissioning date or quantified savings. This is a planned customer for sawmill residues, rather than an operating plant or an announced procurement contract.

Original joint-venture announcement, published by the local MPP →

U.S. / CANADA — OCTOBER 30 EFFECTIVE DATE

Selected plywood and paper imports leave one Canadian tariff list

An October 23 presidential proclamation removes specified Canadian products from the additional 50% duty under Section 338 of the Tariff Act. The White House identifies plywood sheets, some paper products and certain packing crates and boxes among the removals.

The changes apply to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, from 12:01 a.m. Eastern on October 30. Other products are being added to the list at the same time.

Coverage is defined by the proclamation’s annexes and tariff classifications. This is a change to the Section 338 product list, not a blanket cancellation of duties on Canadian wood products. The proclamation separately states that its duties apply in addition to Section 232 duties. General product descriptions do not establish the treatment of every plywood or paper shipment.

White House product summary → Signed proclamation, effective time and linked annexes →

MIDWEST — MINNESOTA / BIDS DUE NOVEMBER 2

Minnetrista forest contract puts stoppage costs in the bid

Minnesota Land Trust seeks quotes for 44.8 acres of forest enhancement near Minnetrista. Work across four treatment areas combines targeted woody and herbaceous vegetation control with native seeding. Bids go to Leah Hall at lhall@mnland.org by November 2 at 5 p.m.; the RFQ does not specify a time zone.

The work window runs December 1, 2026–May 31, 2027, with heavy-equipment operations dependent on frozen ground. Unit prices must include all costs; the RFQ provides no additional payment for stoppages or remobilization.

Requirements include prevailing wages, certified payroll, at least US$2 million in liability coverage and applicable pesticide credentials. Payment follows inspection, acceptance and a complete itemized invoice with required payroll documentation. No contract budget is published. The September site-visit date in the listing has passed; the November quote deadline remains current.

Land Trust’s current procurement listing → Full Gillette Forest Enhancement RFQ →

SOUTH — TENNESSEE / NOVEMBER 5 BID OPENING

White Oak offers eight timber tracts at one bid opening

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency currently lists White Oak Wildlife Management Area sale 13AW-0926-1: 735,627 board feet, Doyle scale, across 288 acres in eight tracts. The advertised bid opening is November 5 at 10:30 a.m. Central Standard Time.

The official invitation identifies 355 Menzies Road, Dyersburg, Tennessee 38024, as the sealed-bid receiving address. The invitation governs submission requirements and the sale terms. These are advertised volumes and acreage, not an awarded price or guaranteed mill recovery.

Agency’s current timber-sale listing → Official White Oak invitation to bid →