Canada Adopts Legislation Promoting the Use of Wood-Based Construction Materials

Canada’s House of Commons has unanimously approved legislation (Bill S-222) promoting the use of wood-based construction materials to reduce carbon emissions and bolster sustainability, Construction Canada reported (11-8-23).

Concrete and steel will still continue to play a significant role in building; however, Bill S-222 emphasizes the importance of considering wood at the forefront of construction design and procurement decisions. This approach enables climate resiliency and a reduced carbon footprint, harnessing Canada’s abundant, renewable wood resources while supporting domestic jobs and economic self-sufficiency, according to Construction Canada. With Indigenous communities directly managing 10% of Canada’s wood supply, it also fosters economic reconciliation.

There are now some 800 mass timber projects in Canada, either completed or underway, with hundreds more under consideration or in design, Construction Canada reports. They address both environmental concerns and the pressing housing crisis. The country faces a need for more than 9 million affordable housing units by 2030, and the forest sector can provide efficient, cost-effective, and climate-resilient solutions.

Wood products, especially mass timber, offer precision manufacturing, modularity, and prefabrication, reducing construction time and labor costs, which are crucial for addressing housing shortages. And contrary to misconceptions, mass timber buildings demonstrate excellent resistance to fires and earthquakes.