“Forests are essential to a healthy environment and provide good jobs to tens of thousands of British Columbians,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests. “That’s why we’re taking action to strengthen how we steward our natural resources, to better protect the province’s forests and ecosystems, conserve fibre supply and expand our use of prescribed fire to reduce the risk of future wildfires.”

If passed, amendments to the Forest and Range Practices Act, the Forest Act, and the Wildfire Act will help address public and First Nations’ interests in how forests are managed, giving government new tools to manage Crown land timber harvesting. These changes support actions underway to better care for forests in the face of climate change and extreme weather events.

The Forest and Range Practices Act governs how forest and range practices and activities are conducted on B.C.’s public lands. Changes to the act will provide new tools to the Ministry of Forests’ compliance and enforcement team to better enforce natural resource laws in the province. The changes will strengthen the protection of First Nations values and interests and allow for a greater range of contravention penalties, ensuring there are appropriate consequences for non-compliance.

“Protecting the natural resources of this land is vitally important, and those who damage these natural resources should face consequences,” said Lennard Joe, CEO of the B.C. First Nations Forestry Council. “Strengthening the enforcement of these laws will increase the public’s trust by ensuring there are real penalties for those who break the rules. When we all properly act as responsible stewards of our environment, everyone benefits.”

Amendments to the Wildfire Act will give prescribed fire legal standing in B.C.’s forest management tool kit, enabling government to expand work with First Nations and other partners on cultural and prescribed burns, when requested. They will allow for a more concerted effort in the advancement in prescribed burns as a wildfire-mitigation practice.

“Prescribed burning is the planned and controlled application of fire to a specific land area to reduce wildfire risk, and restore ecosystems that need fire to function,” Ralston said. “This change will make it easier for the Province to work with First Nations as partners to return beneficial fire to the landscape as a way to keep communities safe and care for critical ecosystems. It’s one part of a series of actions we’re taking with First Nations to create more resilient future.”

In many B.C. ecosystems, fire is a natural process and First Nations have a long history of using fire as a stewardship tool. Using prescribed fire in cooler weather can reduce the risk of more severe wildfires in hotter seasons.

“First Nations communities in British Columbia have long depended on fire to steward the land,” said Wayne Schnitzler, executive director, First Nations’ Emergency Services Society. “Revitalizing the use of fire magnifies the relationship each First Nation community has with it from a cultural, ceremonial, food and healing perspective. We are very excited to work with the stewards of the land and use fire appropriately.”

Through amendments to the Forest Act, government will have the ability to consider stewardship, cultural heritage resources, and public health and safety when issuing road and cutting permits, ensuring these values are protected as part of development. This includes the ability to obtain additional information or add conditions when issuing permits.

These changes are government’s next step in acting on commitments outlined in the 2021 Modernizing Forest Policy in British Columbia intentions paper, aimed at creating a sustainable, resilient forest ecosystem and supporting a strong and diversified forestry sector.

“Countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland continuously demonstrate that responsible governance and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive but, in fact, complementary.

As momentum builds to advance greener construction practices and materials around the world, the House of Commons unanimously backed landmark legislation last month that will secure Canada’s spot alongside global frontrunners at the helm of sustainable progress.

The forest sector has long touted the benefits of new and innovative building materials as a means of reducing our collective carbon footprint. For the past six years, MP Richard Cannings of South Okanagan-West Kootenay, B.C., has determinedly encouraged federal lawmakers to actively consider the merits of wood-based construction materials – and introduced a private members’ bill to that effect.

Finally, in late September, Bill S-222 was passed with a definitive vote of 326-0. This is a clear indication of consensus across Canada’s political spectrum to embrace and promote sustainable building materials like wood.

While concrete and steel sectors will continue to play a significant role, Bill S-222 helps ensure wood gets considered at the front end of building design and procurement decisions – not as an afterthought, but as an equal partner to other building materials.

As a result, we can achieve climate resiliency and a lower carbon footprint by sourcing a sustainable product that is renewable, that Canada has in abundance, and that will support Canadian jobs and promote self-sufficiency for generations to come. With an increasing 10 per cent of Canada’s wood supply now directly managed by Indigenous peoples and communities, there is an opportunity to accelerate economic reconciliation in tandem.

For far too long, Canada’s federal procurement processes have been hamstrung by traditional approaches to construction materials, neglecting the potential of innovative wood products and their capacity to reduce our carbon footprint at large scale. The new lens on procurement decisions for federal infrastructure will create opportunity for Canada’s forest sector and its people while showcasing Canadian innovation to the world.

There are now some 800 mass timber projects in Canada either completed or underway – with hundreds more under consideration or in design development across the country. And Canada isn’t alone in this journey. A year ago, the Biden administration accelerated its Buy Clean agenda which prioritizes the purchase of low-carbon construction materials by the American government.

Aside from the environmental benefits, this development has the potential to play a role in addressing the ongoing housing crisis that has gripped both countries in recent years.

As it stands, Canada needs to build over nine million affordable housing units by 2030 to cater to the increasing demand. Our current trajectory falls significantly short, underlining an imminent and growing crisis. The Canadian forest sector can deliver efficient, cost-effective, and climate-resilient solutions for this housing challenge.

Embracing wood products, especially mass timber, allows for precision manufacturing, modularity, and prefabrication. These features mean faster construction times, and significant savings in labour costs, which is especially vital in addressing housing shortages promptly.

Contrary to certain assumptions, mass timber buildings have also shown excellent resistance to both fires and earthquakes. This means safer housing options in regions prone to such natural disasters.

The unanimous support for Bill S-222 sends a powerful signal – that government leaders recognize the role sustainably-sourced Canadian wood products will play in building greener institutions and communities.

We welcome the government’s timely support for a unified path forward that advances the environmental, social, and economic benefits of sustainable Canadian forestry while affirming Canada’s place alongside nations championing a greener future.

The new AAC for the Lillooet TSA is 375,000 cubic metres. This is a 34 per cent reduction from the previous AAC, while remaining nine per cent above 2016-2021 harvesting levels. The change brings the AAC in line with recent harvesting levels; supports old growth management areas, riparian areas, and wildlife habitat areas; and accounts for First Nations cultural heritage resources and practices.

Within this AAC, there are two partitions specified that support sustainable use of timber resources: a maximum of 300,000 cubic metres from live trees; and a maximum of 180,000 cubic metres from live trees where the ground is sloped less than 40 per cent to ensure the sustainable harvest of areas with easier access.

As well, to encourage the continued harvest of trees killed by the mountain pine beetle outbreak, the ongoing spruce bark beetle outbreak and by wildfire, the chief forester added 75,000 cubic metres from dead trees to the AAC.

Prior to creating the AAC determination, the chief forester met separately with representatives from First Nations, tenure holders and local governments. The determination considers interests identified by First Nations, including the protection of cultural heritage resources for cultural survival and the impact of climate change on water, berry gathering and sustenance hunting. The Lillooet TSA overlaps the territory of four First Nations: St’at’imc, Nlaka’pamux, Secwepemc and Tsilhqot’in.

The chief forester’s AAC determination is an independent professional judgment based on information ranging from technical forestry reports, First Nations consultations and public input to the government’s social and economic objectives.

Under the Forest Act, the chief forester must determine the AAC in each of the province’s 37 timber supply areas and 33 tree farm licences at least once every 10 years. The new AAC for the Lillooet TSA takes effect immediately.

“People will soon see new homes approved faster as we make good on our commitment to position B.C. as a North American leader in digital permitting and construction,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. “We are excited to start work together with our partners to design and then implement this new digital building permit tool, so we can speed up the delivery of new homes and create the types of housing options people need in B.C.”

Currently, many jurisdictions in B.C. rely on a paper-based application process for new housing developments that leads to delays and slow approval times. Once completed, the new digital building permit tool will make it faster and simpler for builders and developers to digitally submit building permits for new housing and for local governments to receive and process the application. The tool will also automatically review the submission to ensure it is compliant with key parts of the B.C. building code to prevent any delays with the submission process.

Establishing a provincial building permit submission tool is the first step toward a modern housing development process that embraces innovation and digital collaboration technologies like building information modelling (BIM). The Ministry of Housing is also working with the National Research Council of Canada to make construction codes machine readable, which will allow for more automated and faster permit reviews in the future.

“A fast, efficient permitting process is key to ensuring infrastructure projects are able to move forward in a timely manner,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Citizens’ Services. “Citizens’ Services staff are lending their expertise to help develop the new digital permitting tool which will help make this happen.”

The tool is being developed through a pilot partnership between the province, 16 local governments and one First Nations government that will implement the new digital building permit tool. The tool is expected to begin testing in partnership communities by March 2024, following which it will be expanded into other communities.

“In this critical time, it is imperative that we work together to tackle the housing crisis head on so we find housing solutions that support all members of the community – families, individuals, young people and seniors,” said Linda Buchanan, mayor, North Vancouver. “Involving local and First Nations governments in the development of the new digital building permit process tool is vital to ensuring people with diverse needs are able to find appropriate and affordable housing faster. That goal perfectly aligns with our city’s housing action plan, too.”

In addition, the province has also created a new digital advisory council to provide strategic advice, ensuring the province is achieving the broader vision of becoming a North American leader in digital permitting and construction. The council will include representatives from 12 leading organizations across the housing development system, such as construction organizations, engineers, architects, local governments and the tech sector. The council will begin regular meetings this fall.

“Digitizing the B.C. building code and building permit processing will help builders more efficiently obtain approvals to deliver the homes and job spaces British Columbians need,” Anne McMullin, president and CEO, Urban Development Institute. “UDI is pleased to participate on the digital advisory council for this pilot partnership and is committed to working with the government on innovative solutions like this.”

These projects build on the government’s work to digitize the B.C. building code and establish a single-application portal for provincial housing permits and authorizations, which was launched in September 2023 by the Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship. Ministries are working closely to integrate different types of permits across the housing development process, with a common goal of making permitting processes for housing more transparent and easier for homebuilders and developers to understand how to comply with permit and regulatory requirements.

It also builds on the province’s development approvals process review, which began in 2018 and helps local governments improve their processes.

“This is an important initiative that is designed to help get more housing built faster and to mitigate costs related to delays,” said Tom Dyas, mayor, Kelowna. “The city of Kelowna has been working on a similar system over the past year and is eager to share our learnings as well as learn what else can be done by working collaboratively across governments.”

Advancing digital permitting and construction is part of the province’s new housing plan: Homes for People. The plan will speed up delivery of new homes, increase the supply of middle-income housing, fight speculation and help those who need it the most.

“The BC Lumber Trade Council welcomes the NAFTA panel decision sending essential aspects of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s flawed antidumping investigation determination back for further review. While this NAFTA panel decision does not remove the tariffs currently levied on BC producers, the ruling is a step forward and it validates Canada’s long-held position that Commerce’s determinations in the lumber dispute are unlawful.

“U.S. duties on Canadian and British Columbian producers of softwood lumber are unwarranted and unfair. We will continue to pursue all avenues to come to a resolution on this softwood lumber dispute.

“The interests of Canadian and US producers alike would be much better served by both sides in this long running dispute working together to resolve it and grow markets domestically and internationally. This would also allow both countries to focus on more critical issues like climate change, cross-border wildfire protection, and housing affordability. Until then, B.C. producers are forced to continue vigorously defending our industry against these meritless allegations.”

The trade council added that the B.C. forest industry is a major contributor to the provincial economy and supports thousands of jobs in the province. B.C. is the largest Canadian exporter of softwood lumber to the U.S.

“Workers in communities around the province rely on British Columbia’s forestry sector for jobs to support their families, livelihoods and communities. The federal and B.C. governments have been clear that the duties imposed by the United States on Canadian softwood lumber are unwarranted, punitive and are negatively impacting British Columbia’s forestry workers and communities.

“Today, a NAFTA panel determined that the U.S. Department of Commerce erred in how it calculated important aspects of the anti-dumping duties applied to Canadian softwood lumber exports. It is encouraging to see the NAFTA panel agree with the extensive evidence to support Canada’s claims, and direct the U.S. Department of Commerce to revisit key elements of its decision. Alongside the Government of Canada, we remain steadfastly committed to the view that all U.S. softwood lumber duties are unfounded.

“Time and again, neutral third-party reviews of the softwood lumber dispute have confirmed these duties are unjustified. While we continue to provide markets around the world with the highest-quality timber, U.S. duties are hurting people on both sides of our shared border, increasing material costs for Americans, and creating uncertainty for forestry professionals and communities here at home.

“On a recent trip to Ottawa, Premier David Eby directly raised these issues with the American ambassador, advocating for a negotiated resolution that would benefit all parties, including the more than 50,000 forest industry workers throughout B.C. communities.”

“Canada is pleased that the NAFTA dispute panel agrees that elements of the U.S. dumping determination are inconsistent with U.S. law. These duties are unwarranted—the only fair outcome is for the United States to revoke all duties on Canadian softwood lumber without further delay.

“The panel directed the U.S. Department of Commerce to review key aspects of its determination. Canada will continue to have an active voice during this process.

“Canada is a world leader in softwood lumber, which is an important industry that creates good, well-paying jobs for thousands of Canadians and supports communities across our country.

“For years, the United States has imposed unjust and illegal duties on Canadian softwood lumber, disrupting our deeply integrated supply chains. We will continue to advocate for Canadian softwood lumber workers and industry as we pursue other legal challenges of unjustifiable U.S. duties.”

Originally introduced by NDP MP Richard Cannings, Bill S-222 requires the government to assess all building materials’ environmental benefits, including their carbon footprint, before approving their use in government buildings. It was originally inspired in part by the example of Structurlam, a leading producer of mass timber products in North America based in Penticton, B.C.

“I’m happy to see that the policy I first presented as a Private Members’ Bill in 2017 has finally passed through parliament with the help of my colleague Senator Diane Griffin,” said Cannings. “Not only does this policy help protect our environment and meet our climate targets, but it directs the government to consider alternative options for building products – which will bring more business to local industries.”

Cannings’ bill died in the Senate because of procedural issues before Parliament ended in June 2019.

“I’m thrilled that, after a few years of this policy falling on the backburner for the Liberals, it has finally passed and local forest sector workers will benefit,” added Cannings. “New Democrats are going to keep fighting to make government procurement policies bring better-paying work to our local communities, and for measures that support a greener economy.”

“The Ontario government is, once again, calling on the United States Department of Commerce (DoC) to immediately remove all duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports.

Ontario’s forest sector and its workers are vital to our government’s plan to build Ontario. The industry generates nearly $21 billion in annual revenue from the sale of manufactured goods and services and supports more than 142,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Since April 2017, Canadian softwood lumber exporters have faced U.S. duty deposits, and while the DoC recently reduced duty rates for Ontario companies, our government remains disappointed that these unwarranted duties still exist.

The United States depends on softwood lumber from Ontario’s forests for high-quality building materials, but its trade practices are harming Canadian softwood lumber producers and adding additional costs for consumers on both sides of the border.

Ontario will continue to defend the workers, families and communities who rely on our forest sector and strongly oppose any trade practices that restrict our companies from fair competition in export markets.

Together with provincial governments, the federal government and industry leaders across the country, we stand united to support the Canadian forest industry and free trade between our two countries.”

Below is the open letter:

To: The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Global Affairs
The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
The Honourable Bruce Ralston, B.C. Minister of Forests

Re: Softwood Lumber Trade Dispute impact on non-tenured manufacturers

Today the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a new softwood lumber duty rate that continues to cause injury to Canada’s forest industry, specifically smaller independent manufacturers, and the U.S. consumers of Canadian lumber products. It’s time for the provincial and federal government to get re-engaged on solving this dispute.

The Independent Wood Processors Association of British Columbia (IWPA) is a group of 58 companies primarily from the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. While the members operate in a myriad of activities from value added remanufacturing plants, custom cutting mills and custom manufacturers, we all have 1 thing in common. None of our members hold crown tenure of standing timber. Our members purchase logs and lumber inputs at “arms length” from various suppliers. Also, for the most part, our members invest, employ and operate in the province of British Columbia, and we are committed to that principal.

When we are faced with a Softwood Lumber ad velorum duty going into the United States, it presents some serious problems:

• Firstly, we are forced to pay the duty on our sale price to the U.S. Customer which includes our manufacturing costs, trim loss and profit. This enables companies that take raw material from Canada to the U.S. for further manufacturing to have a significant advantage over Canadian manufacturers because they pay much lower duty on the raw lumber only.
• Secondly, suppliers of raw material may add on the duty rate to the price on the Canadian side of the border as the U.S. customers may be willing to pay that, in effect we are being charged twice.
• Thirdly, Canadian companies may favor selling into the U.S. as it may increase a quota allocation to them in the future and it provides the possibility of a deposit refund when a settlement is reached.

We would suggest you consider the following actions:

1. When the time comes to negotiate a settlement to this dispute the IWPA feels strongly that the non-tenured companies are excluded from the new agreement. We should not be penalized with an export tax on our products or subjected to a quota.
2. In light of the unfair nature of the duty on our non-tenured lumber, we would request to have all of our duty deposits returned in full to the companies involved.
3. We would like the federal and provincial governments to engage in negotiation to end this dispute as soon as possible.

The IWPA would like to meet with you to discuss this most pressing issue that has continued now for over five years while impacting thousands of Canadians.

Brian Menzies
Executive Director

“The softwood lumber trade cases help offset Canadian lumber subsidies and dumping, allowing U.S. lumber manufacturers to compete in a fair market, invest in their businesses, and supply more U.S. lumber milled by U.S. workers to build U.S. homes,” said Andrew Miller, chairman of the U.S. Lumber Coalition and CEO of Stimson Lumber.

In a statement, the coalition said the U.S. lumber industry established its right to the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties “in the face of unfair competition from Canada in 2017”, and that the industry continues to vigorously defend the existence and enforcement of those duties in all appropriate fora.

“Continued full enforcement of the U.S. trade laws by the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission is exactly what must happen for enduring expansion of U.S. lumber manufacturing and availability to meet demand to build more American homes,” said Miller.

“Failure to fully enforce the trade laws would only undermine long-term confidence in expanding U.S. sawmilling capacity and jobs in the American softwood lumber industry, which could cause significant supply disruptions for the U.S. market,” added Miller.

The U.S. industry remains open to a new U.S.–Canada softwood lumber trade agreement, the association said. “Canada’s lumber industry to date has not been able to agree on a unified position to present to the Canadian federal government to request initiation of government-to-government negotiations with the United States. Until this happens, the U.S. Lumber Coalition fully supports the continued strong enforcement of the U.S. trade laws to address Canada’s unfair softwood lumber trade practices,” the association’s statement said.

“These duties are unwarranted and unfair because BC and Canadian producers are not subsidized,” said Linda Coady, BCLTC president. “The interests of Canadian and U.S. producers alike would be much better served by both sides in this long running dispute working together to resolve it and grow markets domestically and internationally. This would also allow both countries to focus on more critical issues like climate change, cross-border wildfire protection, and housing affordability.”

Coady added, “Our strong hope is that the U.S. industry will end this decades-long litigation and, instead, work with their Canadian counterparts to meet demand for the low-carbon wood products the world wants, including American home builders and owners. Until then, B.C. producers are forced to continue vigorously defending our industry against these meritless allegations.”

B.C. lumber producers are particularly frustrated that Canada is more than six years into the current dispute and yet appeal processes under dispute resolution mechanisms provided for by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), have not yet been held. “Extended and unreasonable U.S. delays on standing up panels for these appeals are directly impacting companies, workers and forestry communities in B.C.,” Coady said.

“These appeals can be a critically important element in dispute resolution that can also help provide the foundation for potential benefits for companies, workers, and consumers on both sides of the border. For this reason, B.C. lumber producers have asked the Government of Canada to make addressing U.S. delays in the dispute resolution process a top priority,” Coady added.

B.C. producers have long emphasized that the U.S. duties hurt not only B.C. businesses and workers, but also U.S. consumers looking to repair, remodel and build new homes. As the U.S. does not produce enough lumber to meet its own domestic needs, the duties pose a threat to post-pandemic recovery on both sides of the border.

B.C. is the largest Canadian exporter of softwood lumber to the U.S. The B.C. forest industry is a major contributor to the provincial economy and supports approximately 100,000 jobs in the province. The BC Lumber Trade Council is the voice on trade matters for companies in B.C. representing the majority of lumber production in the province.

“We strongly disagree with the United States Department of Commerce’s claims. The federal and B.C. governments have been clear and adamant from the outset: duties on B.C. and Canadian softwood lumber exports to the U.S. are unjustified. British Columbia’s 52,000 hard-working forest industry workers deserve better than these unwarranted barriers to their prosperity, and we will continue to fight against these duties.

“In B.C., we are building a forestry sector focused on sustainability, and we continue to provide markets around the world with the highest-quality timber. However, U.S. duties are hurting people on both sides of our shared border, increasing material costs for Americans and creating uncertainty for forestry professionals and communities here at home.

“Forestry is a foundational industry here in B.C., and we will always stand firm against any unfair actions taken against our forestry workers. This includes relentlessly pursuing our claim through all available avenues, including under the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, and the World Trade Organization.

“We continue to work with the federal government, provincial partners and our forest industry, and we are determined to see a just outcome for B.C.’s forest sector.”

British Columbians are encouraged to submit their feedback on the Summary of Current Forest Management Report, through an online questionnaire. The questionnaire will be open for public comment until Aug. 8, 2023, when the feedback will be considered in the development of a final report.

Information sessions are arranged for the FLP committee to provide information, followed by a question-and-answer period where the public can provide comments.

Sessions are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on:

• Wednesday, May 24
  Nazko Valley Community Centre
  9560B Nazko Rd.
  Nazko
• Wednesday, June 7
  Quesnel and District Senior’s Society
  461 Carson Ave.
  Quesnel
• Thursday, June 8
  Wells Community Hall
  4269 Sanders Ave.
  Wells

The report examines forest and ecosystem health in the Quesnel Timber Supply Area, a 1.28-million-hectare region in British Columbia. It reports on the condition of multiple factors, including forest health and the current states of fish, water, wildlife and wetlands.

Public responses to the report will support the creation of the FLP, which is aimed at strengthening healthy ecosystem management, including biodiversity, silviculture, visual management, water quality and wildlife habitat.

FLPs are a new approach to forest stewardship that:

• prioritizes ecological and cultural values,
• creates a more resilient forest,
• reduces wildfire risk,
• supports biodiversity and wildlife habitat, and
• contributes to a competitive forestry sector that supports innovative forestry jobs.

FLPs are a part of a comprehensive approach to better care for British Columbia’s forests, including improved old-growth management.

The Quesnel FLP table was initiated in 2020 and is one of four pilot projects in the province. These four pilot projects will assist in the design and function of the eight new FLPs announced by the Province in February 2023, with funding of $25 million.

Read the Current Condition Report and provide feedback: engage.gov.bc.ca/QuesnelFLP

Learn more about sustainable forest stewardship and Forest Landscape Plans in B.C.

“In the opinion of the House, the government should immediately and permanently end all destruction of old growth forests on federal land, excepting on Indian Reserve Lands, which shall be subject to consent with the respective First Nation,” the motion says.

Read the full text of the motion here.

In a statement, Global Affairs Canada said that during the meeting, Ng underscored the importance of upholding rules based trade to strengthen competitiveness through the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), reiterated concerns about ongoing unjustified U.S. duties on Canadian softwood lumber, and the need to work together to address shared concerns regarding reforms in Mexico’s energy and mining sectors.

“Canada is committed to strengthening its partnerships in the hemisphere through rules-based trade and investment, securing supply chains, and supporting a sustainable, resilient and inclusive economy,” Ng said.

At the conference, Ng participated in a panel discussion on the importance of rules-based trade in the hemisphere with Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Trade Manuel Tovar and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy.

Read the full statement.

In a statement, Nighbor said, “An array of new prospects and obstacles rest at our bilateral doorstep as we embark on the greatest economic feat of the next two decades – the transition to a low carbon economy across North America.

President Biden’s visit to Ottawa this week reminds us that our true collective strength in achieving net zero lies not only in managing our natural landscape responsibly but also in how we collaborate to achieve shared goals.

Canadians and Americans have persisted in our joint pursuit of enabling opportunity for citizens, prosperity for businesses, and upholding environmental stewardship across generations and geography on both sides of the border.

This notion is no more evident than when looking at our symbiotic trade in natural resources. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, $437 billion in Canadian goods flowed into the U.S. (including nearly $23 billion in lumber and engineered wood products) in 2022. And while Canada and the U.S. have weathered a longstanding history on forestry trade relations, the importance of an integrated lumber market must not be understated.

Not only is Canada the largest softwood lumber exporter to the U.S., but over the past ten years, the U.S. has consumed an average of 38 per cent more softwood lumber than it produced annually, according to the Forest Economic Advisors Lumber Quarterly Forecast report. This means American demand for lumber far exceeds what the American forest sector can produce by a significant margin. This gap is expected to remain large over the next decade as the U.S. turns to lower carbon building solutions and builds more affordable housing.”

Read Nighbor’s full statement.

The measures includes funding for eight new regional “Forest Landscape Planning (FLP)” tables focused on old-growth management, with participation from around 50 First Nations. The tables will determine if and where old-growth harvesting happens in those regions, the province said in a news release.

The announcement included news the province is doubling and expanding eligibility of its BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund. The now $180-million fund will support projects such as sawmill retooling for smaller-diameter trees or higher value wood products.

“As we work to protect more old growth, we know we need to accelerate our efforts to build a stronger, more innovative forestry industry that better shares the benefits with workers and communities. Forestry is a foundation of B.C.’s economy,” Forests Minister Bruce Ralston said in the release. “That’s why we are doubling provincial investments to help mills retrofit to get off old-growth logs and manufacture more high-value wood products right here in B.C., so we create more jobs from every tree.”

The province is taking further actions to implement its Old Growth Strategic Review this year, including:

• “developing and implementing alternatives to clear-cutting practices, such as selective harvesting techniques, that better support forest resiliency, ecosystem health and climate adaptation, through a new $10-million silviculture innovation program;
• repealing outdated wording in the Forest and Range Practices Act regulations that prioritizes timber supply over all other forest objectives, like water quality, wildlife habitat and biodiversity;
• increasing Indigenous participation in co-developing changes to forest policy through $2.4 million provided to the First Nations Forestry Council;
• protecting more old-growth forests and biodiverse areas by leveraging hundreds of millions of dollars of philanthropic donations to fund conservation measures supported by the Province and First Nations, through a new conservation financing mechanism to be set up within six months;
• enabling local communities and First Nations to finance old-growth protection by selling verified carbon offsets that represent long-term emission reductions through the new Forest Carbon Offset Protocol 2.0, which will be finalized this year; and
• completing the Old Growth Strategic Action Plan by the end of 2023, to be developed in collaboration with First Nations and in consultation with stakeholders.”

Read the province’s full backgrounder here.

B.C. First Nations Forestry Council CEO Lennard Joe said in the release the council is looking forward to working with the province to modernize forest policy.

“The province’s commitment to continue implementation of the Old Growth Strategic Review and to increase forest landscape planning opportunities for First Nations are both vital to increasing the participation of First Nations in the forest sector as full partners,” Joe said.

In a separate news release, BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) president and CEO Linda Coady welcomed the positive steps in investments, frameworks and relationships to advance old-growth management in B.C.

“In addition to important capacity funding for Indigenous Nations and the First Nations Forestry Council, actions being taken to accelerate the old growth review process will also support land use planning at the local level. Strengthened Indigenous and local engagement on land use planning at the regional level will help ensure goals for forest health and biodiversity are met while also creating more predictability for workers, communities and forest-related businesses across B.C.,” Coady said.

“This is an opportunity for the Government of Yukon and First Nations governments to continue working together on the sustainable management of natural resources. Wood and biomass are important for Yukoners and we encourage and welcome your input. Our legislation is built to ensure that the long-term health of the Yukon’s forests are protected and maintained for the benefit of current and future generations,” said Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker.

The amendments proposed are primarily technical and administrative in nature. Some of the structural changes improve the functionality of this legislation for the Government of Yukon, industry, First Nations and the public. The proposed changes will also increase economic opportunity, enhance environmental stewardship and improve the efficiency of the Act and Regulation.

The complete list of the draft recommended changes to the Forest Resources Act and Regulation is at Yukon.ca/forest-resources-act. People can submit their feedback until April 13, 2023.

“The BC Lumber Trade Council is aware of President Biden’s intention to introduce standards that will limit the use of non-American lumber in government-funded infrastructure projects.

“While this is concerning and we are seeking to better understand what this means for Canadian producers, our focus remains on working on both sides of the border to maximize the opportunity Canada has in providing the sustainably produced, low-carbon lumber products we know American homebuilders, consumers and construction workers want and need. To put this in perspective, in 2021, U.S. lumber demand was over 50 billion board feet. US domestic producers could only supply 35 billion board feet of that demand leaving an around 15 billion board feet shortfall – a gap that was largely filled Canadian lumber, produced by Canadian workers.

“To leverage these and other opportunities, remaining focused on a Team Canada approach to the softwood lumber dispute is critical. For decades, and regardless of who is in government, Canadians have benefited from having a unified voice on this issue across party-lines and across the country. Strong cross partisan and intergovernmental cooperation which drives to a common cause because the elimination of tariffs is in the best interest of all. We appreciate that Minister Ng, like her predecessors, along with the Government of B.C. are continuing with this approach while driving discussions with the U.S. and standing up for Canadians’ interests.”

The BC Lumber Trade Council is the voice on trade matters for companies in B.C. representing the majority of lumber production in the province.

“As we work to implement all the recommendations of the emergency forestry task force in the wake of Hurricane Fiona, our new forestry commission will help us with long term planning to increase the resiliency of our forests. Healthy forests are important for a healthy Island and our government is committed to managing our forests using the best available science and with the advice of local experts,” said Environment, Energy and Climate Action Minister Steven Myers.

The forestry commission will have 12 members plus a chair.  Membership will include woodlot owners, forest management practitioners who use both traditional and eco-based approaches, a public policy expert, a research scientist, a climate change researcher, an Indigenous representative, members of the watershed community, and members of the forestry profession.

The commission will look at the real-world outcomes of extreme weather and identify ways to increase the resiliency of our forests to climate change. It will recommend changes that may be required to the Forest Enhancement Program and Forest Management Act. It will also identify key indicators to measure progress and assist with development of a new forest policy. This work will help address the findings of the Auditor General’s latest report to the Legislative Assembly as well.

“My interest in forestry and land issues goes back a long way and I’m pleased that government has chosen to involve this group of people and the general public in setting the course for the forestry sector,” said the commission’s chair Jean-Paul Arsenault. “I will be surrounded by a very strong slate of commission members with a broad range of backgrounds and knowledge. I also know that we can count on the Forests, Fish and Wildlife division to provide us with the support we will need.”

In a statement addressing the report, Nighbor called for constructive solutions to Canada’s growing forest carbon problem caused by worsening droughts, pests and wildfire, and not “deliberately misleading attacks.”

Read Nighbor’s full response below:

“Last week, economists from the Royal Bank of Canada confirmed their expectation that Canada will enter a recession in the first quarter of 2023. This presents unique challenges for working families in rural and northern Canada where economic prospects are often limited to a few key industries like agriculture, energy, mining, and forestry.

“In hundreds of these communities across the country – from Prince George, B.C., to Corner Brook, N.L. – the forest sector is a central economic driver and provides jobs to over 200,000 Canadians. Beyond its economic contributions, Canadian forestry is known globally for its responsible harvest practices, high quality products, and its ability to help build a lower carbon economy. Canadian foresters also play an essential role in mitigating growing fire risks, protecting carbon rich wetlands, building with renewable, carbon-storing wood products, and creating environmentally friendly products from what would otherwise be wood waste.

“Nordic countries show us how boreal forests can be managed to maximize carbon storage, even in a warming climate. Although their forests are much smaller, Finland and Sweden harvest six to eight times the timber volume per forested hectare than Canada does. At the same time, the net annual increase in stored carbon in Sweden’s forest is so large it reduces national GHG emissions by 70%. These Nordic governments have done something that Canada has not. In developing their climate plans, these leaders have worked with key industries like forestry to build sector-specific plans to maximize environmental and economic outcomes.

“While we were disappointed to see another misleading report on forestry issued by the US-based Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Nature Canada, we were not surprised. Both NRDC and Nature Canada fundraise on their anti-Canadian forestry campaign rhetoric.

“It’s worth noting that staff in NRDC’s New York, Washington, and San Francisco offices suggest they care about Canada’s forests and Canadian workers, even as they actively lobby multiple US states to encourage state legislators to restrict Canadian forest products coming into those states. For reasons that are difficult to understand, Nature Canada has chosen to be a willing partner.

“Let’s be clear. Canada has a forest carbon problem that is caused by the worsening natural disturbance patterns we are seeing through drought, pest outbreaks, and catastrophic wildland fire. It’s a growing problem impacting forest health and resiliency, human health and community safety, and we urgently need constructive solutions – not deliberately misleading attacks.

“FPAC continues to call on the federal government to follow the Nordic examples and work with our sector to develop a comprehensive plan for Canadian forestry, even as we contribute to the federal National Adaptation Strategy (NAS), which is a key deliverable and discussion matter at the upcoming COP 27 global climate conference next month in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

“Canadian forestry needs an NAS that minimizes climate-driven disturbance by actively reducing disturbance risk and supporting forest operations that maximize long-term carbon storage performance. This means increased timber harvests that value carbon and forest health – and the creation of new markets for low-grade wood fibre, including via thinning and residual biomass. It also means more forestry – not less. Forestry that will accelerate economic reconciliation with Indigenous communities, keep communities safer from fire risks, support biodiversity conservation and important ecosystem values, and provide good-paying jobs and careers in the rural and northern Canadian communities that desperately need them.”

The intention to challenge the “unwarranted and unfair” duties was announced last month by Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development Mary Ng.

“Canada is disappointed that the United States continues to impose unwarranted and unfair duties on softwood lumber from Canada. The only fair outcome would be for the United States to meet its CUSMA obligations and cease applying unjustified duties on all Canadian softwood lumber products,” the minister said in a statement.

She added that the U.S. has long relied on competitive Canadian lumber products to meet its domestic needs for high-quality, sustainable and innovative building materials.

“These unjustified duties on softwood products from Canada not only harm Canadian communities, businesses, and workers, but they amount to a tax on U.S. consumers, affecting housing affordability at a time of supply challenges and inflationary pressures,” Ng said.

On August 4, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued the final determination of its anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders regarding certain softwood lumber products from Canada. The new combined rate is 8.59 per cent, dropping from the previous rate of 17.91 per cent.

Canada’s decision to pursue these challenges under Chapter 10 of CUSMA was made in consultation with affected provinces, territories and industry leaders. As part of the challenge, binational panels will be established and tasked with determining whether the duty rates in question were reached in a manner consistent with U.S. law.

“Canada will always defend its softwood lumber industry, the workers, and the communities it supports. Taking legal action under CUSMA represents another step in Canada’s ongoing defence of its forestry sector,” said Ng. “Canada’s softwood lumber industry is a key driver of economic activity across our country and an essential component of Canada’s forestry sector, which contributed more than $34.8 billion to the country’s GDP in 2021 and employs some 205,000 workers.”

Ng said Canada is willing to work with the U.S. toward a negotiated solution to the long-standing trade dispute.

Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables Tory Rushton announced an updated old-growth forest policy effective August 18.

“Protecting our old-growth forests is part of our ongoing work to implement ecological forestry on Crown land in Nova Scotia,” said Rushton. “We believe this revised policy makes Nova Scotia a leader in protecting old-growth forests and demonstrates our commitment to prioritize biodiversity on Crown land.”

For a forest to be considered old growth under the policy, at least 20 per cent of the trees must be the minimum age for that forest type. The minimum age varies from 100 years old for some types of forest to 140 years old. The forest must also be relatively undisturbed by human activity.

There are also certain areas where the department has identified forests that are approaching the definition of old growth. They are called restoration opportunity areas and are also protected by the policy.

The updated policy applies to all old-growth forest on Crown land that is not already designated as part of a protected area. The policy does not require protection of old-growth forests on private land, but the department will work with private landowners, land trusts and others to support conservation.

Commercial and industrial activities are not permitted in areas protected by the policy. Hiking, hunting, fishing, wilderness camping and harvesting plants for Indigenous cultural uses are permitted. The policy also includes a commitment to support education about old-growth forests.

Under rare and exceptional circumstances, an old-growth forest area can be removed from protection or certain activities permitted if it is in the public’s interest. For example, land may be needed for the construction of a new hospital or trees that fell in a storm may be a fire risk to neighbouring communities. Before the department would decide on changing protection, the policy requires a 30-day public comment period and consultation with the Mi’kmaq.

The department conducted a public consultation last year to revise the Old Forest Policy. Feedback from the forestry sector, environmental groups, the Mi’kmaq, Nova Scotians and other stakeholders helped clarify and strengthen the policy language.

Read the full announcement.

By allocating $1.5 billion for the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, this monumental bill, now the law of the land, will help bring cooling and pollution-fighting urban tree cover to all corners of the country, maximizing the multifold benefits of trees in combating climate change.

“Extreme heat is a life or death issue in our cities, thanks to climate change,” said Jad Daley, American Forests president and CEO. “This legislation gets the forestry details right and will have lasting impacts as it helps cities protect their residents from extreme heat.”

Through American Forests’ Tree Equity Score, our scientists and policy experts have found a map of trees in our communities is also a map of income and race, leaving millions of U.S. residents at risk from extreme heat and other climate effects. The U.S. Forest Service works to address that disparity, already reaching over 7,500 communities each year through the Urban and Community Forestry program.

With the Inflation Reduction Act’s influx of needed funding for the program, as well as investments to assist with administration, the agency will be able to dramatically expand its impact, reaching more communities and providing greatly expanded grants and technical assistance for on-the-ground implementation.

“The Inflation Reduction Act will reconnect neighborhoods and invest in urban greening through tree planting and other efforts,” said Representative A. Donald McEachin. “In every neighborhood, in every city, we will all benefit from making improvements that combat climate change and make our communities healthier, greener and more resilient. The Inflation Reduction Act will help accomplish just that and will have a substantial impact on people’s lives with every dollar, every job and every tree.”

This legislation maximizes the power of trees to cool our most vulnerable communities, which often suffer the most as climate change magnifies the severity and frequency of extreme heat.

“Planting trees improves air quality, reduces temperatures on hot days, and creates healthier neighborhoods,” said Senator Cory Booker. “The urban and community forestry investments in the Inflation Reduction Act will empower communities, helping to get more people outside and under the life-saving shade of trees, all while storing more carbon, creating and supporting more jobs, and reducing energy consumption and costs for Americans.”

The legislation’s investments in the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program will scale up work going on on-the-ground across the country, getting funding directly to communities and local nonprofits. By expanding urban tree canopy, the investments in the Inflation Reduction Act will advance equity in our neighborhoods while creating jobs and bolstering local economies across the nation.

“American Forests is not an organization that just cares about trees; we’re an organization that cares about how trees can serve people and about the impacts that those trees make,” said Daley. “This legislation, decades in the making, puts people first, creating healthier communities, jumpstarting careers and saving lives.”

The Inflation Reduction Act invests in forests as climate solutions comprehensively, not only by expanding the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, but by increasing wildfire risk reduction activities, creating incentives for historically disadvantaged private forestland owners who employ forest-climate solutions on their landscapes, and more. With robust forest-climate investments across both public and private lands, this legislation uses a whole-of-government approach to permanently transform America’s forests and communities for the better.

“Forests by themselves cannot solve climate change – to be most effective, they require us actively maintaining, monitoring and managing the health of the trees and the communities they impact,” said Daley. “The Inflation Reduction Act delivers for Americans on both urban and rural landscapes, employing people and trees in the fight against climate change and contributing to healthier forests for us all.”

Learn more: American Forests.

“The Act recognizes the important role of sustainably managed forests in advancing climate solutions,” said Nadine Block, SFI senior vice-president, community and government relations. “The important investments included in the Inflation Reduction Act will benefit forest health on both private and public lands. It will help ensure our forests are resilient to wildfire and contribute to solving our climate crisis,” Block said.

The bill, which passed the Senate on August 7 and the House on August 12, includes numerous provisions intended to address climate change. Key provisions for managing forests and natural resources on private and state forestlands include:

• Forest conservation: US$700 Million for the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) Forest Legacy Program, which encourages the protection of privately owned forest lands through conservation easements or land purchases.
• Climate-smart forestry: $450 million to the USFS for providing forest-carbon grants to private landowners.
• Conservation programs: $18 billion for “Climate-Smart Agriculture” via Natural Resources Conservation Service programs that often include tree and forest-related practices.
• Urban forests: $1.5 billion for grants to cities and non-profits via the USFS’s Urban and Community Forestry division, with a particular focus on benefitting underserved populations and areas.
• Wood products : $100 million for the Wood Innovation Grant Program of the USFS State and Private Forestry division.

The bill also would provide more than $2 billion directly to the USFS for work on National Forest System lands, including for hazardous fuels reduction projects within wildland-urban interface zones and for vegetation management projects carried out in accordance with the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003.

Many of these forest-related provisions will complement the work being done through the SFI Forest Management Standard. The SFI Standard includes a climate-smart forestry objective that has the potential to transform best practices across SFI’s 350-million-acre/140-million-hectare footprint to make our forests more effective in mitigating the impacts of climate change. The climate-smart forestry objective requires SFI-certified organizations to identify and address climate change risks, develop adaptation objectives and strategies to address those risks, and identify and address mitigation opportunities in forest operations.

SFI participates in several coalitions that have sent letters in support of the bill, including the Forest Climate Working Group and the Sustainable Urban Forest Coalition.

Learn more: SFI.

FLNRORD began engaging with First Nations on policy and legislative changes in July, when many Nations were under states of local emergencies due to major wildfires. Now, as much of B.C. continues to grapple with the effects of flooding, the Province is making sweeping changes to forest legislation without any substantial First Nations input. These expedited timelines do not allow for the meaningful and informed consultation required by provincial law under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (the Declaration Act), rendering this process disrespectful, flawed and disingenuous.

“We just receive letter after letter. The province has not met with us or responded to our letters, and we don’t have the resources or expertise needed to understand the implications of these changes on our rights,” explained Chief Greg Blain of the Ashcroft Indian Band.

“First Nations’ free, prior, informed consent are required before changing forestry policies and legislation,” says Dr. Charlene Higgins, CEO of the Forestry Council, speaking directly to Article 19 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. “The Province is ramming through significant changes to forest legislation, through Bills 23 and 28, without meaningful and informed consultation with First Nations. They are box-ticking. Nations need to have real input into the drafting of this legislation, which will impact their lands and rights.”

In July 2021, FLNRORD outlined 20 policy topics for modernizing forestry based in an Intentions Paper that was developed internally by the ministry, without input from First Nations. These policy intentions are focused on provincial priorities, which do not advance many of the key goals and priority areas for change identified by First Nations in the B.C. First Nations Forest Strategy.

“The engagement process with Nations must be reset,” says Chief Bill Williams, president of the Forestry Council. “We are calling on Nations to reject the process of engagement until we can work together to do the technical analysis needed to assist Nations with understanding the implications on their governance and stewardship responsibilities, and their forest licences. This is the kind of work the Forestry Council was established to do.”

Government has appointed an industrial inquiry commission (IIC) to recommend ways to protect workers when contract tendering and the transfer of cutting and timber-harvesting rights fall outside of section 35 of the Labour Relations Code. Section 35 ensures that the collective bargaining rights of employees are protected when a business or part of it is sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of.

“This commission is the first step in improving protections for impacted workers. We need fair and reasonable approaches to update contract tendering and, in turn, to increase job security,” said Harry Bains, Minister of Labour. “From my personal experience working in the forestry industry, I know it’s tough work and workers deserve to have their collective agreement terms and conditions protected.”

Bains has appointed Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers to form the commission. Ready has nearly 40 years’ experience in arbitration and mediation in numerous sectors, including forestry. Rogers is an arbitrator, mediator and lawyer specializing in workplace conflict resolution. The terms of reference for the commission’s scope of work include delivering a final report and recommendations to government by Feb. 10, 2022.

Forming the IIC builds on the recommendations government received from the 2018 independent review of the Labour Relations Code, which identified forestry industry successorship protections as an area that needed further consultation, study and analysis.

Strengthening successorship protections aligns with the broader collaborative work happening across government on forestry. The commission will use the review’s recommendations as a starting point for its research. Its findings will help guide future labour relations decision-making on union successorship issues in the forestry sector.

“As part of our new vision for forestry, we are committed to ensuring workers benefit from sustainable, innovative jobs for generations to come,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. “By striking this commission, we’re taking our next step to help build a diversified and inclusive forestry sector that provides good, family-supporting jobs across the province.”

In June 2021, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development released the intentions paper, Modernizing Forest Policy in B.C.: Setting the Intention and Leading the Forest Sector with a new vision for B.C.’s forests. The intentions paper included a commitment to protect good jobs and support workers by considering the role of labour in tenure transfers, continuing to ensure the sustainability of contractors and advancing the need for an industrial inquiry commission.

In a government news release, the province said old-growth forests will now be included in the conservation zone of the ecological forestry triad model – a recommendation made in William Lahey’s 2018 forestry practices report.

Under the 2012 policy, all proposed logging on Crown land is subject to an old-growth assessment. If the site meets the definition of old-growth, it is set aside for conservation. Approximately 10 per cent of Nova Scotia’s forested land has been marked for long-term conservation.

“Old-growth forests are an important part of the province’s biodiversity and must be maintained and protected,” said Tory Rushton, Nova Scotia minister of Natural Resources and Renewables. “Crown land belongs to all of us. We’ve heard from stakeholder groups about the draft policy, and now we want to give the public the chance to provide their feedback as we look to change the way Crown land is managed in this province.”

The draft policy – found here – includes a provision for review every five years.

For many Nations this was the first they had heard or seen of this.

“The honour of the Crown cannot be met through fundamentally flawed consultation,” says Chief Bill Williams, president of the BC First Nations Forestry Council.

In June 2021 Premier Horgan stated that “the first step in protecting old growth forests must be respecting Indigenous land management rights in their territories.”

“To do this,” says Chief Williams, “requires a consistent recognition of Indigenous jurisdiction, not just sometimes when it’s convenient. Nations should be the ones determining areas they want to protect in their territories based on their knowledge, values and principles.”

Klay Tindall, general manager of forestry operations for Lil’wat Forestry: “Lil’wat Nation just spent several million dollars to purchase a forest licence in their territory so they could have a bigger say in decisions regarding forest management in their territory. And now the government comes along and is trying to tell the Nation what they can and can’t do?”

He adds that “the province claims they consulted with First Nations, but we don’t know who they are talking to.”

Matt Wealick, Indigenous registered professional forester: “The identification of old growth deferral areas is an initiative that should be led by Nations, not an exclusionary panel telling Nations what they see as ecologically important areas – based on information and criteria they chose to use.”

“This is not just about protecting old growth; this is a land use planning decision that will impact the ability of Nations to make decisions about the use of forest lands and resources in their territories for decades,” says Wealick.

“How many times do Nations have to call the province out on their consultation process before they actually change it?” asks Dr. Charlene Higgins, CEO of the Forestry Council.

“The solution is easy,” she says. “The Forestry Council has offered to work with the province on the development of a transparent process to meaningfully engage with Nations on the modernization of forest policy in B.C., including the principles around the identification of old growth deferral areas. Unfortunately, we have yet to receive any acknowledgment of our offer to work collaboratively. Instead, they have chosen to do their own thing.”

As government leaders and policy makers search for solutions to green infrastructure, today’s announcement demonstrates the carbon-storing power of wood products to create more sustainable cities and a cleaner economy. The paper makes the case for greater use of wood in construction as a major solution toward a more climate-resilient economy. It also recognizes that wood is the only sustainable structural material that grows worldwide and is renewable. It has the potential to enable a substantial decarbonization of the built environment in Canada and around the world.

“Given the abundance of Canada’s forest resources, along with our commitment to keeping them as forests forever, today’s announcement showcases the opportunity we have to displace fossil fuel-intensive materials and help decarbonize the built environment while providing green jobs to Canadians,” stated Derek Nighbor, president and CEO at Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC). Nighbor is also president of the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA).

“Forestry is one of the few sectors that can go beyond net-zero carbon. While the built environment provides a huge opportunity for green transformation, it doesn’t end there,” Nighbor said. “Other sectors like cement and steel are also starting to realize the potential of wood fibre-based biomaterials to help them lower the carbon footprints of their operations. As we plan for a future that is more sustainable and leaves no one behind, we have a real opportunity before Canadian forestry communities and workers – to use more wood and wood fibre based products to drive a greener economic recovery,” Nighbor added.

To read the full report, please visit: worldofwoodfestival.org/timefortimber/

FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. As an industry with annual revenues exceeding $80B, Canada’s forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers operating in over 600 communities, providing 230,000 direct jobs, and over 600,000 indirect jobs across the country.

Among many proposed benefits, the strategy highlights opportunities for non-traditional and innovative uses of wood fibre, promotes forest-sector growth and aims at creating new markets for innovative and sustainable products.

“The strategy’s vision and content will position Ontario for sustainable growth across the entire forest sector,” said Stéphane Renou, president and CEO of FPInnovations. “The opportunities identified to increase the use of wood fibre, coupled with reaching untapped markets through new and innovative products, will play an important role in Ontario’s economic growth.”

The research of FPInnovations and its partners delivers solutions that address the challenges of the entire Canadian forest-sector value chain. The research is aligned with the Ontario government’s overall strategy to increase the competitiveness of its forest industry to meet the demanding realities of the 21 century. FPInnovations and its partners are well-positioned to assist in its implementation across Ontario.

In Ontario, FPInnovations has a strategic partnership with provincial and federal funders to help create and stimulate economic development opportunities in forestry, bioenergy, milling and manufacturing, engineered wood products, mass timber, and consumer wood products – through the implementation of science, technology, business intelligence, and market analysis for small and medium-sized businesses and Indigenous enterprises. The Ontario team draws on the vast knowledge of the organization’s research scientists and laboratory resources across the country.