Province aims to strengthen competitiveness, protect jobs, and expand global market access
TORONTO — Ontario has introduced a sweeping 10-year strategy to protect its forestry sector from escalating U.S. trade barriers while positioning the industry for long-term growth and resilience.
The provincial government announced the Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector on Tuesday, outlining measures to defend jobs, modernize operations and expand demand for wood products amid rising tariffs and duties on exports to the United States.
“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.”
Trade tensions drive urgency
Ontario’s forest sector is a major economic driver, generating nearly $21 billion in revenue and supporting more than 154,000 jobs. However, the industry remains heavily dependent on the U.S. market, which accounts for 97 per cent of exports.
That reliance has exposed the sector to growing trade risks. In 2025, the United States raised softwood lumber duties from 14.4 per cent to 35.16 per cent, alongside tariffs of 10 per cent on lumber and 25 per cent on furniture and cabinetry. Combined, those measures pushed total duties and tariffs on lumber exports to 45.16 per cent.
The province says those “unjustified” trade actions threaten mills, workers and communities, while also disrupting supply chains and increasing construction costs in both Canada and the U.S.
Three-pillar strategy
The roadmap is built around three core pillars aimed at stabilizing and expanding the sector.
Defending jobs and businesses
The province plans to mitigate the impact of U.S. tariffs by working with the federal government to keep mills operational and promoting Ontario wood products domestically and internationally.
Adapting for global competitiveness
Ontario will focus on reducing regulatory burdens and supporting modernization efforts within the industry. The plan also emphasizes sustainability and the development of new revenue streams to strengthen the sector’s position in global markets.
Growing demand and innovation
The government aims to boost long-term demand by encouraging the use of wood in construction, particularly through its Buy Ontario policy. It also plans to support the commercialization of new forest-based products and attract international investment.
“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.”
Building on existing investments
The roadmap expands on previous initiatives, including the Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan and funding programs supporting biomass, innovation and infrastructure.
Since 2022, Ontario has invested more than $355 million across these programs, supporting close to 90 businesses and Indigenous communities while creating over 320 jobs.
The province also highlighted its competitive advantages, including being the lowest-cost lumber producer in Canada and accounting for 23 per cent of the country’s forestry GDP despite harvesting only nine per cent of its wood supply.
Exports reached approximately $8.3 billion in 2025, with access to more than 50 international trade agreements providing opportunities for market diversification.
Industry welcomes roadmap
Industry groups and regional organizations broadly endorsed the plan, emphasizing its importance in navigating current economic challenges.
“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)
Looking ahead
The province said it will work with industry and Indigenous partners to establish performance indicators and report annually on progress.
As trade tensions persist, Ontario’s strategy signals a shift toward diversification and domestic resilience, with the goal of reducing reliance on U.S. markets while reinforcing its role as a leading global supplier of forest products.