Northern Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government is providing $10 million in Georgia-Pacific North Woods to support a $191-million upgrade to its oriented strand board (OSB) facility in Englehart, a project the province says will boost production, modernize operations and protect more than 220 jobs in northeastern Ontario.
Funding from the Forest Biomass Program, will help finance upgrades to log processing operations, new facilities, expanded on-site storage and the installation of modern equipment. Once completed, the project is expected to increase production at the plant by 14 per cent.
The company will also acquire a thermal energy system designed to use wood by-products for heat and power to improve efficiency and support more sustainable use of fibre.
“Our government is investing in the tools and technology to transform how our forest sector remains competitive in today’s challenging and evolving markets,” said Kevin Holland, associate minister of forestry and forest products. “This investment is delivering on our roadmap by putting underused wood to work, strengthening supply chains and supporting the production of high-quality, Ontario-made forest products.”
The government said the Englehart project strengthens a key anchor facility in the northeast and supports long-term stability in the region’s forestry economy.
Ontario’s Forest Biomass Program invests up to $20 million annually in projects that increase biomass use, create new forest-sector opportunities and develop alternative uses for wood in partnership with industry, Indigenous communities and stakeholders.
“Local facilities like this one are critical to Ontario’s regional economic stability,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “By investing in upgrades that boost performance and expand these operations, we are protecting good-paying jobs and ensuring communities continue to benefit from a strong, competitive forest sector.”
Since launching in 2023, the program has committed more than $65 million to over 55 projects, leveraging nearly $250 million in additional investment and creating more than 110 jobs, the province said.
The Georgia-Pacific North Woods announcement follows a recent $5.5-million provincial commitment to Greenwater Technology to support biofuel development in the forest sector.