Ontario Launches Roadmap to Protect Forest Sector Workers and Businesses

Press Release

April 28, 2026

Province taking action to defend forestry jobs from unjustified U.S. softwood lumber duties and tariffs while building a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant sector

TORONTO — Today, the Ontario government launched the Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector, a 10-year path to protect the workers, businesses, families and communities of the province’s forestry sector. Building on the government’s strategic investments and actions to-date through Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy, the roadmap responds to new unprecedented trade pressures facing the sector today by increasing the forest industry’s competitive advantage and unlocking new markets to maintain Ontario’s position as a G7 leader in making and selling wood products.

“Our roadmap will connect Ontario’s strong forest product supply chains to new sectors here at home and emerging markets around the world,” said Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products. “Together with our partners, our government is taking action to meet this critical moment and build a future-ready industry, with the tools and talent to thrive.”

Ontario’s forest sector generates close to $21 billion in revenue and supports over 154,000 jobs across the province. With 97 per cent of Ontario’s forest product exports going to the United States, the unjustified U.S. duties and tariffs pose an immediate threat to these workers, businesses and the communities that depend on them. Ontario is taking decisive action, as part of its broader plan to protect Ontario, to ensure the sector can remain competitive, resilient and self-reliant no matter what may come.

The government will take steps under the three pillars:

Defend workers, communities and businesses by reducing the impact of unjustified U.S. tariffs and duties, working with the federal government to keep critical mills operating and promoting Ontario forestry and forest products.

Adapt the forest sector to be more competitive in the global market while safeguarding the long-term sustainability of Ontario’s forests by reducing regulatory burden, working with the sector to help modernize and improve facilities and increasing global demand for Ontario forestry products by unlocking new revenue streams.

Grow long-term demand for Ontario’s forestry products by helping the sector develop and commercialize new forest products, attracting international investment and using more wood to build Ontario as part of the province’s Buy Ontario policy.

“From the harvesters and sawmills in the North to the manufacturers in the South, Ontario forestry supports jobs and economic opportunity all across the province,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “This roadmap lays out our plan to build a more resilient forest industry that will create more good-paying jobs and reaffirm Ontario’s position as the number one choice in the G7 for wood products made from high quality lumber from our carefully managed forests.”

The Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector builds on actions to-date, including the release of the Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan and investments under the Forest Biomass Program, the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program and the Forest Access Roads Funding Program. Since 2022, the government has invested over $355 million in these programs, supporting close to 90 businesses, Indigenous communities and industry partners, and creating more than 320 new jobs across Ontario. Ontario will continue to make strategic investments to protect forestry workers and ensure the sector remains strong for generations to come.

Quick Facts

Working with industry, Indigenous communities and sector partners, the government will develop key performance indicators and report annually on progress towards roadmap goals.
Ontario is the lowest-cost lumber producer in Canada, with a competitive regulatory environment and industry-leading talent and technology that maximize business productivity and growth.
Ontario exported approximately $8.3 billion in forest products in 2025. With access to international economies through more than 50 trade agreements, the province is well-positioned to attract global investment and unlock new markets.
The province’s forest sector generates 23% of Canada’s forestry GDP from just 9% of the national wood harvest, reflecting Ontario’s high value-added manufacturing base and larger share of secondary wood processing than most other regions.
Canada and the U.S. rely on Ontario forest products to build homes and infrastructure. Unjustified U.S. trade measures disrupt supply chains, limit productivity and raise construction and housing costs, harming people and businesses in both countries.
In 2025, the U.S. increased softwood lumber duties from 14.4% to 35.16% and imposed tariffs of 10% on lumber (and 25% on furniture and cabinetry), resulting in total combined duty and tariff rates on lumber exports of 45.16%.

Quotes

“The Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) welcomes the release of A Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector as a critical framework for the long-term stability and growth in the forest product sector. This roadmap reinforces the province’s commitment to defending our sector while fostering a competitive environment for investment and innovation. We look forward to partnering with Ontario to implement these strategic objectives, securing the future of our mills, enhancing public forest road infrastructure, using more wood in provincial projects, and attracting investment. These are ambitious goals, and we applaud Premier Ford, Minister Harris, and Associate Minister Holland for their bold commitment to strengthen this cornerstone of Ontario’s economy.”
– Ian Dunn
President and CEO, OFIA

“We welcome and strongly support the release of the Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector. The structured approach it outlines for defending, adapting, and growing our forestry sector in these turbulent times is essential to the industry’s survival and future growth. Increased domestic demand and greater market adoption for Ontario wood-based construction products will create conditions that attract investment into the sector, and greater adoption of advanced wood construction methods that use factory-built approaches will create opportunities for Ontario-based businesses to scale capacity and strengthens domestic supply chains.”
– Steven Street
Executive Director, WoodWorks Ontario, Canadian Wood Council

“The Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector provides an important foundation to drive growth, sustainability, and resilience in Northwestern Ontario’s forest industry. With strong leadership from Minister Harris and Associate Minister Holland, we are seeing a renewed focus on supporting the sector through innovation, workforce development, and responsible resource management. NOMA looks forward to continued collaboration to ensure our forest sector remains a cornerstone of our regional economy.”
– Rick Dumas
President, Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA)

“FONOM welcomes Ontario’s Roadmap to Protecting the Forest Sector as a positive step forward. With the recent curtailments in the province and growing concern for other mills facing similar challenges, it’s clear how important it is to have the right tools in the toolbox. This roadmap provides a foundation to support competitiveness, innovation, and stability for the Northern communities that rely on forestry.”
– David Plourde
President, The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM)

“This roadmap provides a clear pathway to position Ontario as a global leader in forest-based innovation. Ensuring the long-term viability of anchor mills while simultaneously using our world class forest resources to support the manufacturing of novel energy products, like biofuels, as well as advanced construction materials like cross-laminated timber, are critical to the growth of the forest sector and the economic well-being of this province.”
– Scott Jackson
CEO, Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE)

Additional Resources