Progress Through Partnership
The year 2023 was another busy one at FPAC and I would like to begin by thanking our Board of Directors and member company volunteers, our dedicated team, and our dozens of Indigenous, labour, environmental, academic, and industry partners for your committed efforts to move Canadian forest sector solutions forward.
With 2023 going down in history as Canada’s most devastating fire season, our thoughts continue to be with the families that lost loved ones and the hundreds of Canadians who lost their homes. We owe a debt of gratitude to our first responders, international firefighters, community emergency response leaders, those who took in evacuees, and forest sector workers across the country who bravely stepped up to help on the frontlines.
To put the impacts in clearer focus, the over 18.5 million hectares of forests burned in 2023 represents well over 20 times the amount of forested land that Canada’s Registered Professional Foresters sustainably harvest in an entire year. This is an urgent call to action and Canada can learn some important lessons from the United States, Sweden, and Finland on how to move forward. These countries clearly recognize the importance of active forest management to reduce fuel loads and to improve forest health and resiliency, while at the same time promoting the circular economy benefits that the forest sector value chain has to offer.
Forestry solutions to address fire risks and reduce carbon emissions begin in the forest but also extend to the built environment in our towns and cities. At COP28 in Dubai, in partnership with The Delphi Group, FPAC released Climate Change Mitigation in Canada’s Forest Products Sector: Roadmap Toward Net-Zero which outlines the many ways Canadian forestry can contribute to a lower carbon economy.
At these same global climate meetings, I was pleased to see the Government of Canada join the US, Sweden, Finland, and 13 other countries in endorsing a statement recognizing that wood from sustainably managed forests provides climate solutions for the construction sector and committing to “advancing policies and approaches that support low carbon construction and increase the use of wood from sustainably managed forests in the built environment”. This work will be critical to reducing GHG emissions and building more affordable housing in Canada.
As Canada recognizes the need to build another 6 million affordable housing units by 2030, our sector is in a unique position to step up here too. That’s why, jointly with the Canadian Wood Council, FPAC launched Solutions to Canada’s Housing Crisis are Found in the Forest. This report notes how through building code and permitting process improvements and mass timber and low carbon wood building construction we can help address one of the most pressing needs for Canadian families and young people with a Made in Canada renewable resource.
As we advance these and other solutions in 2024, including the implementation of federal Investment Tax Credits for biomass-related technologies for heat and electricity generation, we look forward to working with Natural Resources Canada on an action plan for the sector. Other leading forested nations around the globe are well ahead of us here. 2024 needs to be the year that the federal government steps up to advance a more coordinated game plan for the sector so we can achieve our shared environmental goals, accelerate economic reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and communities, and improve our global competitiveness position to grow forest sector jobs here in Canada and bring more Canadian wood products to the world.
With every best wish for the New Year.
Derek Nighbor
President and CEO
The successful relocation of the FPAC, Canadian Wood Council (CWC), and National Lumber Grades Authority (NLGA) headquarters this year marks a significant milestone for providing an optimal work environment for staff. The space, designed by Lemay Architecture and Design, incorporates wood and wood-based materials contributed and was thoughtfully designed to boost creativity, productivity, and to showcase the full journey of Canadian forest products – from forestry to wood construction.
This concept naturally extends to the materiality, where wooden wall and floor finishes, acoustic panels, and textures have been designed and selected for the office so that it can reap the benefits of wood in architecture and design – strength and stability alongside soothing and stress-reducing biophilic qualities, promoting air quality, softening sounds, and sustainability. The contemporary office captures the comforts of a home office through three areas that align with forestry: ‘forest’ meeting rooms that reflect movement and collaboration in an ecosystem, ‘trees’ in open work areas for focused work, and ‘wood’ hybrid workspaces for innovation and ad-hoc brainstorming sessions like the patterns found in the material’s grain.
The space intentionally breaks down physical and metaphorical barriers to help foster collaboration between sharing companies. It also serves as an inviting space to facilitate our return to in-person work and support the adoption of hybrid schedules for individuals and their respective teams.
FPAC, CWC and NLGA would like to thank the following wood sector partners who contributed to the office’s design with walls, flooring, and beyond:
We would also like to acknowledge the contributions of the following construction collaborators:
In 2023, FPAC and its members continued to advocate for measures to support the growth and competitiveness of Canada’s forest sector—this includes more resilient, responsive, and cost competitive transportation supply chains, a future-ready workforce with opportunities for all, and a Team Canada approach to international trade issues that unlocks new global markets for world-class Canadian forest products.
Amidst a shifting backdrop of changing climate patterns, worsening wildfire seasons, and economic uncertainties this year, FPAC worked with policymakers to ensure Canada remains top of mind for investment that can help unlock the suite of environmental, economic, and social benefits associated with harvested wood products.
Providing over 205,000 direct and 600,000 indirect jobs across the country, Canada’s forest products sector remains a vital economic driver for hundreds of forest-dependent rural, northern, and Indigenous communities – providing durable, economical, and climate-resilient solutions to some of the most pressing issues of our time.
FPAC participated in the multi-sector Fuel Surcharge Excess Recovery Coalition (FSERC) project to determine the extent of railway companies’ over-recovery of fuel costs via fuel charges levied on shippers. The study found that the net financial gain of their respective fuel surcharge programs was significant, far exceeding their actual fuel costs over the period examined. FPAC has since discussed the FSERC initiative and its findings with key government and external stakeholders, emphasizing the need for a public investigation of the practice.
FPAC joined like-minded association partners from various goods-producing sectors to form the Factual Analysis of International Rail Rates (FAIRR) coalition, which undertook a comprehensive review of the global competitiveness of railway company freight rates. This initiative produced a detailed white paper with expert analysis from academics and private sector rail experts, as well as a public relations and outreach campaign—both intended to support a dialogue with policymakers and other supply chain stakeholders about freight rail competitiveness.
On March 17, FPAC joined EI Commissioner Nancy Healey and colleagues from the Business Liaison Group for a meeting with the Hon. Carla Qualtrough, then Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion. In the meeting, FPAC emphasized the need to address persistent skills and labour shortages including programs and policies to support under-represented demographics looking to enter the forest sector workforce, and supported the notion of a national workforce strategy that considers labour needs alongside infrastructure needs for remote and rural communities looking to grow.
FPAC was pleased to see renewed support for Canada’s forest sector and its workers and communities in the 2023 Federal Budget announced in March. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland committed to over $368.4 million over three years to advance Indigenous leadership, forestry research, low-carbon construction, and sustainable forest product promotion globally. Prior to the budget announcement, FPAC participated in a private session hosted by the Canadian American Business Council (CABC) that included key Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) staff. This provided FPAC with insight into PMO’s plans and priorities for what turned out to be an eventful week in Ottawa and additional opportunities for FPAC leadership to network with political decisionmakers on both sides of the border: Federal Budget Recognizes Canadian Forestry Leadership and Benefits of Forest Biomass.
During this summer’s labour dispute between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and BC Maritime Employers Association—which shut down 30 port terminals and other sites in B.C. between July 1 and July 13, including Canada's busiest, the port of Vancouver—FPAC urged the federal government to intervene and bring an end to the work stoppage. BC ports are considered critical infrastructure by the forest sector, and FPAC’s call to action underlined the strike’s ripple effects which resulted in significant mill shutdowns, curtailments, and layoffs. FPAC was pleased to see the government launch an independent review of its response to the strike, which will produce recommendations for action during future disruptions.
At a time when affordability and availability of products have been top of mind for Canadians, FPAC addressed the impacts of consolidation and anti-competitive behaviour in the global, multi-jurisdictional, ocean container shipping industry. In the wake of supply-chain disruptions, FPAC joined transportation and trade association partners in issuing a letter to Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry François-Philippe Champagne to investigate and deter anti-competitive behaviour threatening the integrity of supply chains, and to help ensure access to competitive marine transportation options for shippers. FPAC was pleased to see its advocacy result in the inclusion of an item in Budget 2023, which called for a review of the Shipping Conferences Exemption Act to improve marine shipping competition.
In November, FPAC released Solutions to Canada’s Housing Crisis are Found in the Forest, a policy brief highlighting the benefits of wood-based products and mass timber construction to address the housing crisis in a manner that puts Canadians’ essential needs at the forefront – while strengthening our climate resolve and driving economic prosperity in tandem.
FPAC and CWC co-hosted a breakfast event bringing together sector partners and political staffers to explore innovative wood solutions that can accelerate the construction of homes for Canadians. Broadcaster Sam Laprade served as Moderator and panelists included President & CEO at Abacus Data, David Coletto, Senior Director of Operations at Canadian Home Builders’ Association, Leah Nord, and Director of Mass Timber at Bird Construction, Patrick Crabbe.
The 2023 Fall Economic Statement included a significant positive development for FPAC members and the broader forest sector – the inclusion of biomass for heat and electricity generation in federal Clean Technology and Clean Manufacturing Investment Tax Credits (ITCs). The announcement not only included eligibility for biomass and biomass-related technologies, but it also included a plan for their implementation. This decision marks a significant step forward to grow Canada’s forest bioeconomy and will encourage additional market use for low-grade wood in the face of worsening fire patterns. FPAC will continue to work with the federal government on implementation, to ensure Canada is moving to a stronger position as a destination for forest sector and renewable energy investment in the months and years to come.
President Biden’s visit to Ottawa emphasized the collaborative approach needed for North America’s transition to a low-carbon economy. While Canada is a significant softwood lumber exporter to the states, changing U.S. policies pose challenges. FPAC continued to advocate for the government to consider supportive measures like tax credits and subsidies for industrial decarbonization. In turn, Canada can diversify export markets and products to increase competitiveness and grow our economy.
As a recognized global leader in managing forests and the ecosystems, wildlife, and communities that depend on them, FPAC members remain steadfast in their commitment to advancing collaborative partnerships and initiatives to help unlock the potential of Canada’s forest products sector to reduce emissions and mitigate the impacts of a changing climate.
In 2023, the forest sector continued to spearhead collaborations with emerging industries, governments, and Indigenous communities to secure a more productive and environmentally responsible future in the face of one of the worst wildfire seasons in recorded history – recognizing the unique and vital role Indigenous stewardship plays in managing Canada’s forests, and the importance forests have to the cultural, economic, and spiritual relationships Indigenous Peoples hold with the land.
In May, FPAC took part in the North American Caribou Workshop & Arctic Ungulate Conference in Anchorage, Alaska. With over 500 delegates, the event focused on the latest scientific research on caribou management and recovery activities. Director of Conservation Biology Scott Jackson led FPAC’s presence at the conference, which included a booth highlighting the forest sector’s efforts on caribou conservation and showcasing research projects involving forest companies, resource sectors, research institutions, and governments.
FPAC visited Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan to meet with sector leaders and elected officials in the community this July. While in the land of Living Skies, President and CEO Derek Nighbor, Vice President of Indigenous Relations and Forestry Etienne Belanger, and Manager of Communications and Digital Media Justin Veale toured key forest sector operations including NorthWind Forest Products, NorSask Forest Products, and the MLTC Bioenergy Centre which are all owned by the Meadow Lake Tribal Council. The team also visited Paper Excellence’s Meadow Lake Mechanical Pulp, and toured forest operations associated with Tolko’s Oriented Strand Board Mill – and later in the week, hosted an informal sector and government dinner. While in Saskatoon, FPAC met with the Indigenous Resource Network, First Nations Bank of Canada, and leaders of the newly founded Forest Saskatchewan provincial forestry association.
On September 23, FPAC hosted an Indigenous Leaders Session as part of our National Forest Week activities. The session, which was broadcasted by CPAC and moderated by Mokwateh Principal and Director JP Gladu, highlighted successful partnership strategies, challenges and remedies as well as tangible benefits for Indigenous communities in forest sector collaborations, reconciliation approaches, and ways to enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the sector. Participants included Chief Lorraine Cobiness, Chief of Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation, Chief Roger Wesley, Former Chief of Constance Lake First Nation, Chief Isaac Laboucan-Avirom of Woodland Cree First Nation, and Wendy Landry, Mayor, Municipality of Shuniah in Northwestern Ontario.
In December, FPAC released Climate Change Mitigation in Canada’s Forest Products Sector: Roadmap Toward Net-Zero in partnership with the Delphi Group. With contributions from key partners at the Canadian Forest Service, NCASI, FPInnovations, and the Canadian Wood Council, the report outlines key GHG emissions reduction pathways across the full value chain of the forest sector. The report also demonstrates the sector’s unique position to advance climate action and the shift to a low-carbon economy, while showcasing the carbon-sequestering capabilities of forests, through active management and the role of wood products in long-term carbon storage.
FPAC Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Kate Lindsay, along with Director of Policy Ben McArthur, attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28 UAE) in Dubai in December. At the Canadian Pavilion, FPAC showcased the recently launched Climate Change Mitigation in Canada’s Forest Products Sector: Roadmap Toward Net-Zero report via a panel discussion featuring Ara Erickson, Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Weyerhaeuser, FPAC's Kate Lindsay, and Tina Rasmussen, Chief Business Officer at Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) Industrial Investments. The panel delved into the integration of climate change considerations and forest management strategies in Canada and emphasized the necessity of climate-smart forestry for long-term sustainability, resilience in the face of climate change, biodiversity conservation, and the integration of Indigenous knowledge and leadership.
FPAC and the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) partnered to launch a Supply Chain Study conducted by iTOTEM Analytics throughout 2023. The study includes comprehensive modelling of the supply chain, Indigenous participation, climate contribution and community investment benefits associated with Canada’s forest products sector. The study will refine FPAC/COFI's existing understanding, ensuring a deeper insight into the advancements made by Indigenous and local businesses in advancing decarbonization and supplying goods, materials, and services to the Canadian forest products sector.
In 2021, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Act received Royal Assent and came into force. Under the Act, the Government of Canada has worked to prepare and implement an action plan to achieve the objectives of the Declaration. This year, in June, the Federal government, in conjunction with Indigenous leaders, unveiled the UN Declaration Act Action Plan. This plan serves as a strategic guide for executing and attaining the goals outlined in the UNDRIP. Over the past two years, FPAC has actively engaged and collaborated with the federal government, contributing through workshops and formal submissions. This collaborative effort aimed to ensure that the unique perspectives and experiences of the forest sector are duly considered and integrated into the Action Plan.
Since 2021, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has been developing a National Benefits-Sharing Framework (NBSF) with the objective of ensuring Indigenous Peoples and their communities equitably and consistently benefit from natural resource development on their lands. After providing a formal submission in 2022, FPAC reengaged with NRCan to advocate for a flexible approach for the NBSF, emphasizing the importance of capital access for Indigenous groups alongside the need for concurrent capacity-building efforts, particularly in corporate training and financial literacy. FPAC also underscored the significance of streamlining administrative processes to expedite economic partnerships with Indigenous communities, recognizing the time-sensitive nature of these collaborations.
FPAC worked with Mokwateh much of 2023 to revise the FPAC Indigenous Engagement Best Practices Compendium, an internal guide to support FPAC members that was first published in 2019. The new compendium is intended to be used both by Indigenous relations experts to review specific questions, and find additional resources, as well as a global resource for companies involved in or curious about Indigenous relations.
In June, FPAC welcomed the federal government’s inclusion of forest management solutions in the long-awaited National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) and Action Plan. FPAC was a lead voice for the sector at the federal table in the development of the strategy, both directly within the ‘strong and resilient economies’ table as well as through the Climate Proof Canada Coalition. However, more work is needed to ensure that the wildfire season’s implications were being met with clearer disaster-resilient plans. FPAC will continue working on behalf of Canada’s forest sector with a coalition of organizations to support the government on implementing climate adaptation and emergency preparedness progress, particularly in the face of increasing risk of wildland fires.
In August, FPAC partnered with Jamie Stephen, Managing Director of TorchLight Bioresources, to develop a solutions-oriented piece in Policy Magazine that emphasizes the need for more Climate-Smart Forestry (CSF) practices in Canada. Canada’s largest net source of GHG emissions in 2023 was forest fires. FPAC worked with Dr. Stephen to highlight how Canada can better mitigate wildfire emissions, reduce fossil fuel consumption, preserve infrastructure, and improve forest health: Canada’s Largest Polluters Are Not Who You Think They Are.
Working with all political parties is important to advancing the ideas and issues that matter to Canadian forestry workers and their families. On September 21, 2023, FPAC and leaders from member companies met with Conservative Members of Parliament to discuss sector innovation, trade, and competitiveness. The discussion included Shannon Stubbs, Shadow Minister for Natural Resources; Rick Perkins, Shadow Minister for Industry & Science; Randy Hoback, Advisor to the Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre on Canada-US Relations and Associate Shadow Minister for International Trade; and Kyle Seeback, Shadow Minister for International Trade. The meeting focused on ways the Conservatives government can support the sector and its workers to improve economic opportunity in rural and northern Canada and bring more sustainably sourced Canadian forest products to the world. It was a thoughtful and constructive discussion and identified numerous opportunities for continued dialogue and engagement between Canada’s forest sector and the Federal Conservative caucus.
In June, the FPAC Forestry Committee toured forestry operations in Fredericton, New Brunswick and had the opportunity to interact with representatives of the provincial government to discuss current issues and the province’s approach to sustainable forest management. FPAC is grateful to the team at AV Group NB for hosting the tour and the work that went into making the event such a success.
Throughout 2023, FPAC hosted a series of standalone sessions where expert guest speakers were invited to present to, and engage with, member companies on a range of topics. In total, 10 sessions were help in 2023. Topics included, but not limited to:
In April, at the beginning of worsening wildfires in Canada, the federal government released the 2023 National Inventory Report (NIR). FPAC’s Vice President of Indigenous Relations and Forestry authored a news release titled ‘Canada’s Forest Sector Welcomes Federal Emissions’ Report’s Focus on Worsening Fires’. The NIR reflected what we have known all along – that wildfires are the largest source of pollution in Canada. To lessen wildfire risks, forest management which includes, replanting, building with wood, developing renewable and recyclable alternative products, and using biomass for green alternatives plays an irreplaceable role. Establishing an industrial strategy for our sector in partnership with the government, Indigenous communities, and sector leaders, it will strengthen our rural and northern forestry communities and the Canadian economy overall.
In the face of one of the worst wildfire seasons in recorded Canadian history, FPAC worked diligently to help raise awareness, promote education, and champion thought leadership that sheds light on the vital role sustainable forestry plays in mitigating fire risks and supporting environmental, social, and economic goals for the country.
By working to inform the public, policymakers, and stakeholders about responsible forestry practices and how our members can secure a more productive, economically successful, and environmentally responsible future – FPAC has helped nurture a knowledgeable public and stakeholder network that can better navigate the complexities of our changing climate and the climate-smart solutions offered by today’s forest sector.
This summer’s devastating wildfire season sparked renewed public interest in forestry’s role in helping mitigate fire risk and protect communities across the country. FPAC’s President and CEO, Derek Nighbor, along with the Indigenous Resource Network’s Executive Director, John Desjarlais, co-authored Heat of the moment: Canada’s wildfires call for more sustainable forest management, not less underscoring the pressing need for Indigenous leadership and a strategic and proactive approach to forest management in the face of worsening wildfire patterns.
Beyond print media, FPAC engaged on several digital fronts in the summer and fall months to speak to the urgency of fire risk reduction and community protection. This included participating in the Conference Board of Canada’s Economics Matters: Leadership Perspectives podcast – The Economic Impact of the Wildfires with Pedro Antunes and Derek Nighbor, where topics including how climate change is making forest management a more critical task and what else can be done to prevent forest fires from getting out of control in the future were discussed. Derek also joined Free Lunch by The Peak – How Wildfires Are Impacting Canada's Forestry Sector, to discuss the impact of wildfires on the forest sector and what role we can play in mitigating the harm of wildfires in the future.
In February, FPAC visited Washington, DC to align on national communications priorities between Forestry For The Future and the Working Forests Initiative. While in town, FPAC networked with US-based forest sector and media partners including National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO), American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), and Canadian American Business Council (CABC).
FPAC’s inaugural National Forest Week Policy Conference brought together over 400 business leaders, forest sector experts, Members of Parliament, Ministers, Senators, and political staffers in Ottawa on September 20, 2023. Discussions and presentations shared during the conference helped reposition forestry as a capable environmental solutions provider in the eyes of government, while igniting vital conversations about how forestry can help advance broader Indigenous, economic, and social objectives through Climate-Smart Forestry. The conference was recorded and aired by Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) – a leading destination for politics and public affairs broadcasts in Canada.
In tandem with National Forest Week activities, the 2023 FPAC Awards of Excellence Luncheon and Evening Parliamentary Reception served as key gatherings for members, conference panelists, government officials, and sector partners to network and celebrate the community leaders, Indigenous Peoples, and forest sector professionals who are advancing the benefits of sustainable Canadian forestry.
Remembering Jim Carr, a strong supporter of Canadian forestry and former Natural Resources Minister from 2015 – 2018. His leadership and belief in the forest industry’s critical role in the green economy and his recognition of the importance of forest sector workers to rural and northern communities made him a true champion of Canadian forestry here at home and around the world. FPAC celebrated him as a Forest Community Champion in 2019. This year, we renamed this award in his memory and honour - the Jim Carr Forest Community Champion Award. It’s a small way we can recognize Jim and his many contributions to Canadian forestry and his broader commitment to service in the public interest. He is gone too soon, and he will be missed.
In May, FPAC announced the winners of the second annual Chisholm Awards for Innovation in Forestry program. The national competition recognizes youth leadership and innovative research developments in the field of forestry. FPAC’s 2023 winners were recognized during the Eighteenth Session of the United Nations’ Forum on Forests, garnering coverage from local, regional, and national media. FPAC was pleased to announce Adrien Gaudelas and Maria Semeniuk as winners of the program. The winning entries bring forestry for the future to life by featuring the application of corrugated wood-based panels for the wood construction industry, and the use of carbonized biomass into battery electrodes for electric vehicles.
In 2023, FPAC built on the success of its Green Dream Internship Program. The annual program provides a stipend to support 15 forest sector interns as they develop digital content that showcases their work experiences in Canada’s forests and mills over the course of the summer. FPAC received over 75 pieces of content from the group, including blogs, TikToks, and videos that highlight the diverse and dynamic world of forestry. The program generated more than 20 media stories with a combined reach of 300,000 readers primarily in community media outlets.
Marlies Ilott: Interview with Brent Leonard and Craig Douthwright - Superintendent and Process Specialist in the Kraft Mill: 2023 FPAC Green Dream Internship Program
Jarod Milford: Fostering Community and Employee Engagement at Canfor Pulp: FPAC 2023 Green Dream Internship Program
In May, FPAC helped promote the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations’ (ICFPA) biennial Sustainability Progress Report. The report demonstrates the international forest sector’s progress across seven key areas of sustainability and highlights the sector’s role in meeting global climate goals. FPAC attended the joint ICFPA-Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries (ACSFI) session the week of May 25 in Amsterdam, along with the ICFPA CEO Roundtable where three 2022-2023 Blue Sky Young Researchers Innovation Awards recipients were recognized.
Earlier in the year, FPAC’s President and CEO, Derek Nighbor, authored an opinion piece titled ‘Biden’s ‘Buy American’ measures require Canada to improve competitiveness’ addressing US President, Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and the impacts of it on Canadian competitiveness. FPAC emphasized the urgent need for a robust response from the Canadian government, outlining concrete actions such as the adoption of deliberate carbon reduction plans, improved regulations, and incentives for key industries. The op-ed urges for a clearer, strategic pathway to lower carbon emissions linking it to increased investment and job creation in our country.
Now in its third year, FPAC’s Forestry For The Future program is continuing its transformative mission to help educate Canadians on how our sector sustainably manages forests in a way that balances environmental, economic, and social factors to meet the needs of the present – while ensuring forests themselves remain healthy and productive for generations to come.
In March, FPAC hosted the Forestry For The Future National Stakeholders Event in downtown Toronto drawing an audience of 120 attendees from forest sector associations and businesses to architects and academics. The event featured diverse perspectives on the importance of building social license for forestry and showcasing how Canada’s forest sector can tell its compelling story to the next generation of Canadians seeking renewable and sustainable solutions to economic questions.
Backed by data, science, accreditation, and practice, the program continues to double down on reaching Canadians through the mediums and platforms where they get their information. In 2023, Forestry For The Future produced a broad range of unique and compelling video, media, and podcast content to help raise awareness on how the forest sector is building resiliency one tree at a time and strengthening our most valuable climate change asset.
From April to December 2023, the program reached over 9.7 million Canadians across Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Google driving more than 1.4 million website visits. From features in The Globe and Mail and Macleans, to the successful Canadian Forestry Can Save The World podcast, to videos showcasing the faces of forestry and the work being done from coast-to-coast – the program has continued to bring together leading voices and ideas across the forestry community to successfully tell nuanced and in-depth stories about the role the sector plays in responsibly managing Canada's forests and their future.
Discover more at ForestryForTheFuture.ca
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As our country moves to meet lower emissions targets by 2050 and beyond, Canada has the potential to be a bioenergy and biomaterials powerhouse on the world stage. In 2023, the forest sector continued to embrace the emerging clean technology, low-carbon era using innovation to create new environmental and economic opportunity that unlock our forests’ full potential.
FPAC and our members are proud to uphold Canada’s reputation as a producer of sustainable products that can help meet global demands. Our sector is proud to lead the way in providing responsible, safe, strong, and green alternatives for building materials to everyday essentials, helping move the carbon-capture potential of our forests into our cities and the products we use daily.
FPAC and its Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations (PPER) Coalition continued to regularly meet with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in 2023 to discuss key areas of the 2019 proposed regulatory modernization plans. FPAC submitted, on behalf of the PPER Coalition, its second formal submission for responses and recommendations on key aspects of the 2019 proposal document. This submission included an additional 3 recommendations, in addition to the 18 recommendations made in 2020. Discussions with government officials sought to remedy discrepancies in datasets between the sector and ECCC to better understand ECCC’s justification for proposals on several environmental performance parameters. FPAC also kicked off the development of a Case Studies subgroup that will be integral to supporting next steps of regulatory consultation. Efforts are ongoing to update the regulations and FPAC will maintain ongoing dialogue with the government to determine the most effective way forward.
FPAC files a Notice of Objection to the Final Screening Assessment on Crude Tall Oil given the lack of scientific grounding and mischaracterization of the pulp and paper sector. In July 2022, ECCC published a Final Screening Assessment and a proposed Risk Management Approach for Crude Tall Oil (CTO). ECCC’s assessment relied upon a number of scientific assumptions to develop estimation techniques to quantify amounts of CTO that are released to effluent from pulp and paper mills. A thorough review by FPAC and scientific partners found ECCC’s proposed Risk Management Approach to be improperly designed and FPAC proceeded to file an objection to force a review of the approach by the federal government. A response is expected sometime in 2024.
Since 2022, FPAC has been a part of three separate initiatives to help advance the use of wood in federal government procurement. As a part of the Buy Clean Industry Alliance, partnering with CWC and participating in the Canada Green Buildings Strategy, together with discussions with Smart Prosperity Institute, The Transition Accelerator, and other partners – FPAC continues to promote the use of wood-based, low-carbon building solutions in Canada and has contributed to the development of a roadmap for building a stronger mass-timber ecosystem across the country.
In late September, federal wood procurement Bill S-222 was passed with a definitive vote of 326-0 – indicating clear consensus in Canada’s House of Commons to embrace and promote sustainable building materials like wood. While concrete and steel sectors will continue to play a significant role, Bill S-222 helps ensure wood gets considered at the front end of building design and procurement decisions – not as an afterthought – in recognizing new and innovative wood building innovations like mass timber: Ground-Breaking Legislation Puts Canada on the Path to a Greener Future. FPAC would like to acknowledge the vision and leadership role of South Okanagan-West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings who was the original legislator that advocated for this change when he tabled Bill C-354 back in 2017. Without Richard’s commitment and ability to work across party lines, this bill likely would have never passed.
This year, FPAC launched a process to create two, refreshed Future Biopathways reports. The original Future Biopathways project was led by FPAC with support from FPInnovations and Natural Resources Canada and concluded in 2011. While the original report served as a comprehensive investigation of the opportunities to produce a wide range of bioproducts from wood fibre, a more updated Biopathways report is needed to reflect conditions of change that have taken place over the past more than one decade. FPAC, through its work with the Biopathways Steering Committee, have kicked off the process of developing two refreshed reports which will analyze the existing and emerging opportunities to produce a wide range of bio-products from wood fibre, and will explore new approaches to managing value-chains, growing economic opportunity, evaluating market potential, and building partnerships in this critical area.
FPAC’s Vice President Innovation, Environment, and Climate Policy, Mahima Sharma, spoke at the 2023 Scaling Up Conference in Ottawa on the topic of delivering on the new carbon strategy for Canada’s forest sector. The panel, Cultivating Carbon: Adding Value to Canadian Forestry & Agriculture, was moderated by Bruce Dudley, Chief of Partnerships and New Initiatives at The Delphi Group. Mahima spoke alongside Finnish Trade Commissioner Jaakko Autere, and Executive Director of Canadian Federation of Agriculture on how Canada learn from Finland's experience and apply it in a Canadian context, what incentives do we need to apply to motivate our sectors, the timing importance of these actions, as well as the benefits of additional collaboration between the forestry and agricultural sectors.
FPAC worked with the Environment Committee to respond to ECCC's Proposed Clean Electricity Regulations. Building off the work that started in 2021, ECCC continued to move forward with proposing regulations to drive progress towards a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. The sector’s comments were primarily focused on the critical differences between electricity generation via cogeneration at forest sector facilities versus the utility sector, the immense renewable electricity generation opportunity presented from renewable forest biomass such as bark and wood residues and the need for supportive and enabling policy to facilitate this, as well as the applicability of this proposed regulation to the forest products sector. To support the development of the industry’s positioning, FPAC’s Environment committee met to discuss industry’s views, which was later followed-up with meeting between ECCC, FPAC, and the Environment Committee.
Low-Carbon Assets Through Life Cycle Assessment: Putting in Place Data Confidentiality Provisions – As a significant collector of data to support ongoing partnerships with Statistics Canada on two key environment and energy surveys, as well as to advance advocacy for the sector on a wide-range of environment, energy, and climate-related files, FPAC’s environmental data set is seen as a valuable data-set across government, industry representatives, academia, and various trusted partners across the country. With the advancement of key government initiatives such as the Low-carbon assets through life cycle assessment government initiative, the need for use of FPAC’s data set to inform these policies became increasingly apparent, in an effort to avoid duplicative reporting efforts from industry.
In May, FPAC’s Vice President of Innovation, Environment and Climate Policy, Mahima Sharma and Vice President of Federal Government Relations, Eric Johnson co-authored an op-ed titled ‘Canada Needs an Industrial Strategy for Forestry’ after Budget 2023 was released. Budget 2023 recognized the value of biomass and the need to do more to build new markets for stranded wood fibre, however, Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) were not explicitly mentioned. To support our advocacy efforts, FPAC placed this opinion piece in the media.
