The Binational Softwood Lumber Council (BSLC) was established by the United
States and Canadian federal governments as part of the 2006 Softwood Lumber
Agreement. For the first time, CEOs and company principals from both countries
joined together to strengthen the long-term health and sustainability of the North
American softwood lumber sector.
The BSLC’s Mandate
is to promote increased cooperation between the U.S. and Canadian
softwood lumber industries and to strengthen and expand the market
for softwood lumber products in both countries.
Sustainable Growth
for Softwood Lumber
At the foundation of the BSLC’s work is a core belief that the
relationship between the American and Canadian lumber industries
strengthens when the market is strong enough for both sectors to
thrive. Achieving this requires growing and diversifying demand for
softwood lumber across both traditional and emerging applications.
The main objectives of the BSLC to achieve long-term sustainable
growth for softwood lumber are to support initiatives that protect
softwood lumber’s existing share in single-family residential
construction and the repair and remodel sector and that expand
lumber utilization in multifamily and nonresidential construction.
GROWING THE MARKET
Since 2006, the BSLC has funded high-impact programs that deliver
measurable results for the North American softwood lumber
industry.
A landmark achievement: uniting the industry under a commodity checkoff program, leading to the launch of the Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) in 2012, allowing the BSLC to shift its focus toward long-term, strategic priorities that expand markets and strengthen collaboration between Canadian and U.S. industry partners. Since inception, the SLB has generated more than 16.4 billion board feet (BBF) of new demand and has a strategic plan in place to attain 2.9 BBF of annual incremental lumber volume by 2035.
Today, the BSLC continues to champion innovation by supporting emerging building technologies like mass timber and modular construction. It also plays a vital role in cross-sector initiatives, including partnerships with World Steel to advance hybrid steel-wood construction, efforts to address affordable and attainable housing needs, and collaborations with organizations such as Built By Nature to promote wood as a key solution for a more sustainable built environment worldwide.
The Board
The BSLC is guided by a 14-member board, comprising senior executives from
leading U.S. and Canadian lumber producers. Each director serves in an individual
capacity rather than on behalf of their organization. This binational structure is
unique within the sector and provides a powerful platform for setting strategic
direction, advancing market development initiatives, and fostering collaboration
across organizations serving the North American softwood lumber industry.
Directors Representing
United States
- Jon Gartman (Board Chair) Sierra Pacific Industries
- Marc Brinkmeyer Idaho Forest Group
- James Cummins Wildlife Mississippi
- Fritz Mason Georgia Pacific
- Hank Scott (Co-Treasurer) Collum’s Lumber
- Devin Stockfish Weyerhaeuser
- Cade Warner The Westervelt Company
Directors Representing
Canada
- Duncan Davies (Board Vice-Chair & Co-Treasurer) Mosaic Timber
- Federic Lebel Groupe Lebel
- Sean McLaren West Fraser Timber
- Jerome Pelletier J.D. Irving
- Luc Theriault Domtar
- Brad Thorlakson Tolko Forest Products
- Susan Yurkovich Canfor
Director Emeritus
- Adrian Blocker Representing the United States
- Don Kayne Representing Canada