The global trade landscape has fundamentally changed. To meet this moment, Canada’s government is developing a comprehensive industrial strategy. It will invest in domestic production, develop Canadian expertise, support companies to retool and reinvest, and help industries pivot to a growing Canadian market and those of new, reliable trading partners around the world.
As part of that strategy, Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a series of new measures to help the softwood lumber industry transform to remain competitive. These measures will help unlock the full potential of the industry as we scale up housing and major infrastructure construction and drive long-term economic growth, rooted in Canadian resources and innovation.
Canada’s government will:
- Provide up to $700 million in loan guarantees to address the immediate pressures facing the softwood lumber sector. This will ensure companies have the financing and credit support they need to maintain and restructure their operations during this period of transformation.
- Invest $500 million to supercharge product and market diversification to make the industry more competitive for the long-term. As technology changes the way we build and demand grows for softwood lumber, this will increase domestic processing and value-added production. This investment will also include initiatives that support Indigenous-led forestry business development and diversification.
- Build Canadian by prioritizing Canadian materials in construction and changing federal procurement processes to require companies contracting with the federal government to source Canadian lumber. As the government delivers on its mandate to build major infrastructure projects faster and to increase the pace of homebuilding to nearly 500,000 new homes per year over the next decade, we will ensure Canadian lumber and other Canadian materials are prioritized in that construction. Once established, Build Canada Homes will provide financing to innovative private sector homebuilders in Canada that use Canadian technologies and resources, like mass timber and softwood lumber.
- Diversify international markets for Canada’s sustainably sourced forest products. The government will launch a new initiative to diversify exports of Canadian wood products, including the reinvigoration of federal programming to expand offshore markets for sustainable, innovative, high-quality products. In fast-growing regions with rising demand for housing and other buildings, we will promote Canadian lumber as an affordable, sustainable solution.
- Provide $50 million for upskilling, reskilling, and income supports for more than 6,000 affected softwood lumber workers through the Labour Market Development Agreements. This investment builds on temporary enhancements to the Employment Insurance (EI) program and the EI Work-Sharing program. Through this investment, we will equip workers with the tools and training they need to stay competitive – helping them adapt to new technologies, strengthen their expertise, and excel in changing industries.
Canada’s economy is shifting from reliance to resilience. During this time of transformation, these measures will ensure Canada’s softwood lumber industry and workers are able to adapt and emerge even stronger.
“The forest sector is a pillar of Canada’s economy,” Prime Minister Mark Carney says. “As we shift from reliance to resilience, Canada’s new government will ensure the industry can transform to seize new opportunities in Canadian and international markets. In the face of a changing global landscape, we are focused on what we can control – building Canada strong with Canadian expertise, using Canadian lumber.”
Canada’s forest sector is a major economic driver, supporting nearly 200,000 workers, including over 11,000 Indigenous Peoples, and contributing more than $20 billion to our GDP.
