Latest news with #British Columbia
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
This B.C. city is using robotic lawn mowers to keep grass trimmed
The City of Richmond has been testing out robotic lawn mowers since 2022. Two workhouses employed by the city of Richmond, B.C., don't take coffee breaks and never complain about the heat. They are the robotic lawn mowers that have been trimming the grass outside city hall since 2022, as a pilot project. Though often described as autonomous, the electric mowers actually are not – instead relying on perimeter wires to keep them within a defined area. They move in unpredictable patterns and run almost silently. 'There's no way to predict where it's going to go,' said Egan Davies, the city's manager of parks operations, watching one of the robots glide at random across the grass. The other mower was on a break, recharging quietly nearby. 'It's different than conventional grass cutting equipment. These don't actually cut the grass,' Davies explained. 'It doesn't allow the grass to grow. It comes out every day and it just grazes the surface, and so at most, it's cutting off a couple of millimeters.' This, he argued, makes the robots more efficient, and less water is needed to keep the grass green. So far, nobody has tried to steal the devices, although they are equipped with a loud alarm that's triggered when picked up. They also don't work beyond city property, so 'would be useless,' Davies said. Similar units cost between a few hundred dollars to a several thousand. Although still in the trial phase, the city says expansion to other sites is possible, if it continues to like what it's seeing.
CBC
2 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Residents urged to practice water safety as Mounties say most B.C. drownings are preventable
Accidental drownings claim dozens of lives every year in British Columbia and experts say most are preventable. CBC's Michelle Gomez caught up with Mounties from the Fraser Valley who offered tips to ensure a safe day on the water.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. slaps 20.56% anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber
The U.S. Commerce Department has decided to hike anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood to 20.56 per cent, with B.C. lumber organizations calling them unjustified, punitive and protectionist. The hiked softwood lumber duties come amid the growing trade war between Canada and the U.S., and represent the latest blow to B.C.'s beleaguered forestry industry. B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar described the long-awaited rate hike as a "gut punch" for B.C.'s forestry industry which has seen thousands of workers laid off over the last few years. "U.S. President Donald Trump has made it his mission to destroy Canada's economy, and there is no sector that has faced more of that than the forestry sector," he told CBC News. "This is a big deal for our workers. This is going to have a significant impact. It will lead to curtailments," he added. The B.C. government has been urging the federal government to prioritize the softwood lumber industry in trade discussions with the U.S., and Parmar said the hiked duties would also impact U.S. homeowners needing lumber to rebuild or renovate their homes. "This is going to mean that Americans, in particular middle-class Americans, are going to be paying more to the tune of $15,000 to $20,000 more USD to purchase or to build a home." The B.C. Lumber Trade Council says in a statement that if the U.S. department's pending review on countervailing duties is in line with its preliminary results, the combined rate against Canadian softwood shipped to the United States will be well over 30 per cent. In April, the preliminary combined rate on Canadian softwood lumber was reported to be 34.45 per cent, up from the previous 14.54 per cent. Friday's decision is a final determination, with Parmar saying it would go into effect in the U.S. Federal Register shortly.U.S. lumber producers have long maintained that Canadian stumpage fees, for harvesting on Crown land, are an unfair government subsidy. B.C.'s Independent Wood Processors Association says in a statement that the U.S. Commerce Department's decision this week to raise duties also includes a requirement for Canadian companies to retroactively remit duties for products shipped to the United States since Jan.1, 2023. WATCH | B.C. premier urges feds to prioritze lumber deal: Association chair Andy Rielly says in a statement that the requirement to pay duties on products shipped in the last 31 months could not only force small B.C. producers to shut down, but may also threaten operators' personal assets as they may have to risk using their homes as collateral to secure bonds to pay. Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier this month that a future trade agreement with the United States could include quotas on softwood lumber, an area that has caused friction between the two countries for years before the latest trade war. Producer urges province to change conditions The United States has long been the single largest market for B.C. lumber exports, representing over half the market for the approximately $10-billion industry. But amid a series of challenges for the province's forestry industry — including a mountain pine beetle infestation that has killed hundreds of thousands of trees — mills have been closing around the province in recent years, and major forestry companies are opening up new mills in the United States. In 2023, numbers from Statistics Canada showed B.C. had lost more than 40,000 forest-sector jobs since the early 1990s. Kim Haakstad, the CEO of the B.C. Council of Forest Industries, said the B.C. government should work to improve the production environment in the province to prevent future mill closures. In a statement, the council said that by activating timber sales, fast-tracking permits and cutting through regulatory gridlock, the province could send a signal that it is serious about rebuilding a sustainable forest argued that if the industry could get production levels back to historic levels, it could help keep forestry-dependent communities vibrant into the future. "That will bring more than $300 million to the provincial government, as well, to help address the deficit situation we're in," Haakstad said. Kurt Niquidet, the president of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council, highlighted that Trump also has initiated a federal investigation into the U.S. imports of lumber and timber citing "national security," which could further impact B.C.'s forestry industry when combined with the tariffs. "Softwood lumber is quite important for the United States. They can only supply about 70 per cent of their softwood lumber demand, and they're importing 30 per cent from elsewhere," he told CBC News. "25 per cent of that's really coming from Canada, and British Columbia is the largest softwood lumber producer within Canada."
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
U.S. slaps 20.56% anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber
Social Sharing The U.S. Commerce Department has decided to hike anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood to 20.56 per cent, with B.C. lumber organizations calling them unjustified, punitive and protectionist. The hiked softwood lumber duties come amid the growing trade war between Canada and the U.S., and represent the latest blow to B.C.'s beleaguered forestry industry. B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar described the long-awaited rate hike as a "gut punch" for B.C.'s forestry industry which has seen thousands of workers laid off over the last few years. "U.S. President Donald Trump has made it his mission to destroy Canada's economy, and there is no sector that has faced more of that than the forestry sector," he told CBC News. "This is a big deal for our workers. This is going to have a significant impact. It will lead to curtailments," he added. The B.C. government has been urging the federal government to prioritize the softwood lumber industry in trade discussions with the U.S., and Parmar said the hiked duties would also impact U.S. homeowners needing lumber to rebuild or renovate their homes. "This is going to mean that Americans, in particular middle-class Americans, are going to be paying more to the tune of $15,000 to $20,000 more USD to purchase or to build a home." The B.C. Lumber Trade Council says in a statement that if the U.S. department's pending review on countervailing duties is in line with its preliminary results, the combined rate against Canadian softwood shipped to the United States will be well over 30 per cent. In April, the preliminary combined rate on Canadian softwood lumber was reported to be 34.45 per cent, up from the previous 14.54 per cent. Friday's decision is a final determination, with Parmar saying it would go into effect in the U.S. Federal Register shortly. WATCH | Duties hiked on softwood lumber: U.S. hikes anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber | Hanomansing Tonight 17 hours ago U.S. lumber producers have long maintained that Canadian stumpage fees, for harvesting on Crown land, are an unfair government subsidy. B.C.'s Independent Wood Processors Association says in a statement that the U.S. Commerce Department's decision this week to raise duties also includes a requirement for Canadian companies to retroactively remit duties for products shipped to the United States since Jan.1, 2023. WATCH | B.C. premier urges feds to prioritze lumber deal: Will a softwood lumber deal be part of Canada-U.S. trade negotiations? | Power & Politics 5 days ago As premiers meet ahead of a briefing from the prime minister on the state of Canada-U.S. trade negotiations on Tuesday, B.C. Premier David Eby tells Power & Politics there may be 'an opportunity' for Canada to strike a deal on long-standing softwood lumber disputes with the Americans. Association chair Andy Rielly says in a statement that the requirement to pay duties on products shipped in the last 31 months could not only force small B.C. producers to shut down, but may also threaten operators' personal assets as they may have to risk using their homes as collateral to secure bonds to pay. Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier this month that a future trade agreement with the United States could include quotas on softwood lumber, an area that has caused friction between the two countries for years before the latest trade war. Producer urges province to change conditions The United States has long been the single largest market for B.C. lumber exports, representing over half the market for the approximately $10-billion industry. But amid a series of challenges for the province's forestry industry — including a mountain pine beetle infestation that has killed hundreds of thousands of trees — mills have been closing around the province in recent years, and major forestry companies are opening up new mills in the United States. In 2023, numbers from Statistics Canada showed B.C. had lost more than 40,000 forest-sector jobs since the early 1990s. Kim Haakstad, the CEO of the B.C. Council of Forest Industries, said the B.C. government should work to improve the production environment in the province to prevent future mill closures. In a statement, the council said that by activating timber sales, fast-tracking permits and cutting through regulatory gridlock, the province could send a signal that it is serious about rebuilding a sustainable forest sector. WATCH | B.C.'s forestry industry struggles amid tariff war: Trump's tariff war could collapse B.C.'s struggling forest industry 4 months ago B.C.'s forest industry is already in serious trouble, and U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war is pushing it closer to the brink of collapse. CBC's Lyndsay Duncombe breaks down what's at stake for lumber producers and how they're looking to adapt. Haakstad argued that if the industry could get production levels back to historic levels, it could help keep forestry-dependent communities vibrant into the future. "That will bring more than $300 million to the provincial government, as well, to help address the deficit situation we're in," Haakstad said. Kurt Niquidet, the president of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council, highlighted that Trump also has initiated a federal investigation into the U.S. imports of lumber and timber citing "national security," which could further impact B.C.'s forestry industry when combined with the tariffs. "Softwood lumber is quite important for the United States. They can only supply about 70 per cent of their softwood lumber demand, and they're importing 30 per cent from elsewhere," he told CBC News.
Globe and Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
AgriFORCE Announces Reverse Stock Split
VANCOUVER, British Columbia and West Palm Beach, FL, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AgriFORCE Growing Systems Ltd. ('the Company') (NASDAQ: AGRI) today announced the Company's Board of Directors has approved a reverse stock split of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares whereby every nine (9) shares of its outstanding common shares will automatically be combined into one (1) common share. The reverse split was approved by the Company's shareholders on June 6, 2025 and will be effective as of the commencement of trading on July 28, 2025 at the open of market. As of the close of business on July 23, 2025, we had 7,851,398 shares of stock issued and outstanding. Post reverse split, this would equate to 872,377 shares. The reverse stock split is being implemented for the purpose of complying with the closing bid price requirement set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). ABOUT AGRIFORCE AgriFORCE Growing Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: AGRI; AGRIW) is a tech company focused on building an integrated platform that combines the best technology, intellectual property, and knowledge to solve an urgent problem – providing the best solutions to help drive value added benefits to our shareholders through use of sustainable technologies. Additional Follow AgriFORCE on Social Media: Forward-Looking Statements Statements made in this press release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "may," "will," "plan," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," and similar expressions. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors-some of which are beyond the Company's control-that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including but not limited to our ability to mine Bitcoin profitably and certain geopolitical and other third party risks beyond our control. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are encouraged to review the Company's periodic filings with the SEC under the heading "Risk Factors" in Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update forward-looking statements due to new information or future developments. For more information, visit Further Information, please Contact:Investor Relations, 1-561-717-1742, info@ SOURCE: AgriFORCE Growing Systems This article contains syndicated content. We have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed the content, and may receive compensation for placement of the content on this site. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
