Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government has unveiled a 10-year Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector, aimed at shielding workers, businesses and communities from rising U.S. softwood lumber duties while strengthening the industry’s long-term competitiveness.
The plan, announced April 28 by the Ministry of Natural Resources, sets out measures to defend jobs, adapt the sector for global markets and grow demand for Ontario forest products amid what the province calls “unjustified” U.S. tariffs and duties.
“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,” said Steven Street, executive director, WoodWorks Ontario, Canadian Wood Council. “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.”
Ontario’s forest sector generates about $21 billion in annual revenue and supports more than 154,000 jobs across the province. About 97 per cent of forest product exports currently go to the United States, leaving the sector exposed to trade disruptions.
U.S. softwood lumber duties increased in 2025 from 14.4 per cent to 35.16 per cent, with additional tariffs of 10 per cent on lumber and 25 per cent on furniture and cabinetry, bringing total combined charges on lumber exports to 45.16 per cent.
Under the first pillar of the roadmap, Ontario will work with the federal government to help keep mills operating, reduce the impact of tariffs and promote Ontario forest products in new markets.
The second pillar focuses on improving competitiveness by reducing regulatory burden, modernizing facilities and increasing global demand through new revenue streams, while maintaining sustainable forest management practices.
The third pillar aims to grow long-term demand by supporting the development and commercialization of new forest products, attracting international investment and increasing the use of wood in construction under 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 builds on existing initiatives, including the Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan and funding programs such as the Forest Biomass Program, the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program and the Forest Access Roads Funding Program.
The government says it will work with industry and Indigenous partners to develop performance indicators and report annually on progress toward the roadmap’s goals.