Ontario Investing in Forest Biomass Research, Innovation, and Modernization

On Friday, Ontario announced its plan to protect workers and jobs in the forest sector by investing over C$6.2 million in research, innovation, and modernization projects in Northwestern Ontario.

As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario, the investments from the Forest Biomass Program will boost the Ontario forest sector’s competitive advantage by creating new jobs, increasing productivity, and opening up opportunities for new revenue streams in new markets for underused wood and mill by-products, known as forest biomass.

Ontario’s investment is supporting eight projects related to the use of underused wood and mill by-products, known as forest biomass:

• The Center for Research and Innovation in the Bioeconomy is receiving $5,000,000 to accelerate forest sector growth by developing and commercializing innovative forest-based products, assisting with technology development and fostering cross-industry collaboration.
• Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek is receiving $250,000 to support the development of a community heating system by funding a study of local biomass supply and purchasing equipment to convert forest biomass to fuel.
• Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper is receiving $87,750 to help support the facility’s modernization by funding two studies assessing current technology and designing upgrades to the boiler, fiber recovery, and sludge processing systems.

These projects will help create good-paying local jobs while opening new markets for forest sector businesses. In addition, they will strengthen Northwestern Ontario’s economy by building strong regional markets for mill by-products which will create added demand for the harvesting, hauling, and trucking industries, and develop new opportunities for Indigenous communities to participate in the growing forest industry.

In a statement, Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products, said:

“Our government is proud to support world-class innovation in Ontario’s forest sector that helps the industry grow, create jobs, and build prosperity in northern communities that depend on a strong forest sector. We’re taking bold, decisive action to protect good-paying jobs and economic growth in the face of US tariffs, including making targeted investments that ensure our forest sector is resilient for whatever else comes our way.”