The province has introduced a fresh plan aimed at increasing the use of wood in construction projects across Ontario.
Unveiled on June 26, the Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan sets forth the province’s goals over the next five years to encourage wood usage in building, thereby expanding the market for Ontario’s timber products.
The province has identified four key objectives to achieve this:
ramping up awareness and boosting demand for advanced wood construction (AWC);
enhancing AWC research and refining codes, standards, and regulations;
developing AWC capacity;
and showcasing AWC achievements to foster innovation, emphasize benefits, and create opportunities.
In developing this plan, the province stated it consulted with various industry stakeholders including builders, designers, engineers, educators, fire services personnel, insurers, and local officials.
Expected outcomes from this initiative include job creation, economic growth, faster home construction, and efforts to combat climate change.
“As our government works on its mission to protect and develop Ontario, this action plan will help support and prioritize wood-based building using locally sourced wood construction materials,” said Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris in a news release.
“Advanced wood construction offers a new opportunity that can facilitate quicker home building while strengthening a competitive forest sector capable of facing future challenges.”
Advanced wood construction encompasses not only traditional stick building done on-site but also modular building techniques where components are produced off-site in factories before being transported for assembly at their final location.
This method can utilize dimensional lumber or engineered products like cross-laminated timber (CLT) and laminated strand lumber (LSL), which incorporate materials such as wood chips and strands during their production process.
The versatility of advanced wood construction is notable as it can be applied to taller multifamily residential buildings as well as office spaces, institutional structures, commercial sites, educational facilities, industrial buildings, bridges, and more infrastructure projects.
The industry response to the province’s plan has been positive among trade associations and private enterprises alike.
Steven Street, executive director of Wood Works Ontario – Canadian Wood Council described it as “inspiring and deeply meaningful” along with being a “clear and confident endorsement of advanced wood construction.”
“This strategic investment fosters a smarter approach to building in Ontario. By supporting industrialized construction processes, the government is unlocking pathways for urgently needed housing supply while also driving private investments that create skilled jobs. This positions Ontario as a leader in modern construction practices,” Street noted in the Ontario release.
“This is about addressing today’s issues while laying down foundations for long-term economic advancement – with industrialized wood construction propelling that change forward.”
The provincial figures indicate that Ontario’s forest products sector contributes over $20 billion to its economy while employing more than 128,000 individuals through both direct and indirect job opportunities.
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