Hot on the heels of last week’s $50 million Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program (FSIIP) announcement, the Ontario government has released a draft of a Forest Sector Strategy.
“The forest industry is an important driver of the regional economy in Nipissing, providing jobs that the people of this community depend on,” said Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli. “We look forward to hearing feedback on the draft strategy, which aims to reduce barriers that prevent businesses from taking full advantage of the tremendous potential of Ontario’s forest sector while ensuring high standards of sustainable forest management.”
The government says the strategy aims to stimulate job creation, promote economic growth, and reduce unnecessary burden and costs for businesses, all while ensuring our forests continue to be managed sustainably.
First announced in September 2018, the government says they have heard from Indigenous partners, industry and municipal leaders through seven roundtables across the province. They also received input from the public in the form of surveys and email submissions.
Based on the feedback, they say there are four main areas of focus identified to shape the draft strategy:
- promoting stewardship and sustainability
- putting more wood to work
- improving our cost competitiveness
- fostering innovation, markets, and talent
“Ontario’s forests are our greatest renewable resource, and we are working towards a forest sector strategy designed to support existing businesses, while helping to create more opportunities and a better quality of life for the people of Ontario — all without compromising our high standards of sustainable forest management,” said John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.
The full proposal can be found online, and the government says consultation on the draft will close on February 5, 2020. The final strategy will be released in the springtime.
