"In this paper, we examine practices implemented by forest processing firms to increase retention of Aboriginal employees in the workplace from the perspective of Aboriginal women workers. Although cultural sensitivity trainings were a common ameliorative used by companies, Aboriginal women working for these firms were equivocal in their opinions of them. While some Aboriginal women found the recognition of Aboriginal culture empowering, others found the exercise tokenizing, particularly when white 'experts' made presentations explaining Aboriginal culture.
The UINR forestry division strives for an environmentally sound way to use our natural resources while creating employment for members of our communities and further strengthening relationships between local industry and Mi’kmaq people.
"The Forest Resources Management Major (Specialization in Community and Aboriginal Forestry) is designed to educate students to be adaptable professionals with a comprehensive understanding of the discipline of forest management, an ability to acquire specific knowledge and skills as required, and the confidence to play a decision-making role in a wide variety of resource management situations with an emphasis on community forestry and working with Aboriginal peoples.
In the past two years, APEC has produced reports on the economic impact of the forest industries in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Firms in this industry, one of the most significant in the region, face an increasingly complex environment. This article highlights key findings of the two reports, with data updated to the most recent year and coverage extended, where possible, to the four Atlantic provinces. The value of forest-related activity in the Atlantic provinces in 1998 was over $1.3 billion.
The forest industry is a key component of New Brunswick’s economic base but its contribution is a risk due to limited fibre supply. This report provides a detailed assessment of the industry’s current economic impact and estimates the potential economic impact of proposals to increase the wood supply from Crown land.
Atlantic Canada’s forest industry is contracting as a result of intense global market pressures. Between 2004 and 2006 the number of firms in Atlantic Canada’s forest industry dropped by 11% while the industry shed more than 8,000 jobs. This 24% decline in employment is more than double the 11% drop nationally. Despite these losses, the forest industry remains a crucial part of Atlantic Canada’s economy, currently accounting for about 15% of international merchandise exports and contributing 4.5% of total GDP in 2005.
One of the most pressing issues for the forest industry in Canada is the dwindling supply of labour, and in particular the lack of skilled workers. Until recently, a labour surplus ensured an adequate supply of new workers for resource based firms across Nova Scotia. However, a decline in the birth rate, competition from other industries, and out-migration to western Canada have all served to reduce the pool of available workers. The productivity and profitability of firms in the forest industry depends on the skills and capabilities of its workforce.
The forest labour force in New Brunswick has changed significantly over the last decade. Employment grew strongly in the late 1990’s led by growth in the wood products sector, but growth has stalled in recent years. The unemployment rate has declined but remains high. The potential local supply of labour for the forest industry is dwindling due to demographic factors such as slow population growth, an aging population and migration of young people to the cities.
APEC has been asked by the Forest Products Association of Nova Scotia (FPANS) to provide an updated economic profile of the of the forest industry in Nova Scotia. The report highlights the major challenges facing the industry, recent economic trends within the Nova Scotia forest industry, its contribution to the provincial economy and how the industry is addressing sustainable forest management issues.
Chapter 1 provides a profile of the industry and its importance to the economy of Atlantic Canada. In Chapter 2, the competitiveness challenges facing the industry are analyzed. Chapter 3 explores new directions for the industry while a final chapter summarizes the findings and highlights the key recommendations. Of particular interest to readers will be the views of those engaged in the forest industry in Atlantic Canada, gathered from six industry roundtables held across the Atlantic Provinces between April and June of 2007 as well as from individual interviews.
