Canada must take action to build mass timber industry, reduce carbon footprint: report

A comprehensive report mapping out an ambitious and strategic vision for the future of mass timber in Canada – and its potential to transform green construction and drive economic growth across the country – was released on Parliament Hill Thursday.

Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), Canadian Wood Council and Energy Futures Lab presented the report with The Transition Accelerator, a pan-Canadian organization that works with other groups to advance viable pathways to net-zero by 2050.

The Mass Timber Roadmap draws on more than a decade of collaborative industry efforts to unlock and demonstrate the potential of mass timber and lays out a plan to increase the mass timber market – both domestic and exports – to $1.2 billion by 2030 and to $2.4 billion by 2035.

“To build a world-class mass timber sector, Canada must adopt a strategic approach to ensure we can compete and win globally,” said Kate Lindsay, FPAC senior vice-president and chief sustainability officer. “This is about smart policy here at home and bringing more Canadian wood to our cities and to the world. By enabling faster, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly construction with mass timber, we can grow jobs, help address the affordable housing crunch, and reduce emissions.”

The report says achieving targets laid out in The Mass Timber Roadmap requires coordinated efforts across three critical action areas, including:

Public-private collaboration: The Mass Timber Roadmap calls for a partnership between public and private sectors to develop and advance a comprehensive policy package that will enhance the value of Canada's forest resources while building domestic capacity along the supply chain.
Standardization: The report points to a need to standardize building archetypes, wood specifications and connectors throughout the supply chain to streamline processes and reduce costs.
Skills development: The roadmap says implementing a robust skills development plan that encompasses all aspects of the supply chain is essential to support the sector’s growth.

Derek Eaton, Director of Future Economy at The Transition Accelerator, said the mass timber sector provides a “perfect example” of how Canada can add value to its primary resources through innovative technologies and advanced skills.

“If we act strategically and quickly, we have the opportunity to build an industry that reduces emissions, addresses urgent needs, and positions Canada to win in emerging global value chains,” he said.

Rick Jeffery, President and CEO of the Canadian Wood Council, said the potential for Canadian wood products to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint and drive the sustainable wood industry is immense, but cautioned that Canada must move quickly because there is growing global competition.