Provincial funding will boost export sales and strengthen industry supply chains
GOLDEN LAKE — The Ontario government is investing over $2.1 million in four projects to increase forest sector competitiveness and drive innovative uses for mill by-products and underused wood known as forest biomass. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario and build a competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy, these investments will position the forest sector to unlock new markets, bolster supply chains and protect good-paying jobs.
“Our government is helping forest sector businesses build international reach and bring competitive products to market,” said Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products. “Under our forest sector roadmap, we’re driving the industry’s continued growth and showcasing Ontario’s capacity as a G7 leader in innovative manufacturing.”
Associate Minister Holland made the announcement at Ben Hokum and Son, which is receiving over $1.9 million to install two biomass-assisted steam kilns that will triple lumber drying capacity, improve efficiency and increase the sawmill’s competitive advantage. The Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program funding will equip the company to boost export sales by over 30 per cent, building the presence of Ontario-made forest products in global markets while protecting 115 jobs and supporting over 100 indirect jobs.
Under the Forest Biomass Program, the government is also investing in three other projects with the long-term potential to use over 350,000 tonnes of forest biomass each year:
- Ben Hokum and Son ($100,000) to plan a biomass-powered clean electricity and thermal energy facility that will use carbon capture and storage to produce net-negative emissions
- TorchLight Bioresources ($87,500) to complete a feasibility study for a combined heat and power plant in Petawawa that would replace natural gas with biomass-generated energy
- Carboform ($62,500) to optimize and refine technology which uses forest biomass residues to produce high-value and low-carbon coatings and inks
These investments are delivering on the Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector, the government’s plan to Defend, Adapt and Grow the province’s cornerstone industry. Guided by the roadmap, the government will continue making strategic investments to protect and create good-paying jobs in forestry, empower the industry to develop and manufacture new forest products and position Ontario to lead in the global forest bioeconomy.
Quick Facts
- Ben Hokum and Son Limited (BHSL) was established in 1956 and produces over 40 million board feet of white and red pine lumber each year. Ontario’s support for the cogeneration facility builds on a previous $119,735 Forest Biomass Program investment, which helped BHSL conduct an initial investigation regarding the potential of local biomass as a clean energy source.
- TorchLight Bioresources is a bioenergy firm providing decarbonization strategies, system design, planning and project development. The government previously invested $100,000 in TorchLight’s biomass plant feasibility study at the Northcrest Downsview Airport Lands.
- Carboform is a clean technology company with research and development operations at the SpinUp incubator on the University of Toronto’s Mississauga campus.
- The government released the Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector on April 28, setting out a 10-year plan to maintain Ontario’s position as a G7 leader in making and selling wood products, with the competitive excellence and transformative technologies to unlock new global markets.
- The Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program has approved close to $90 million in funding to reinforce forest sector productivity, securing an added $420 million in external investments, creating close to 500 new jobs and helping to retain another 3,800 jobs.
- The Forest Biomass Program has committed over $66 million in targeted investments to more than 60 projects, securing close to $250 million in additional external funding and creating more than 110 new jobs.
- The forest sector is an essential industry, generating close to $21 billion in business revenue and supporting close to 155,000 jobs.
- Wood produced from Ontario’s Crown forests is sustainably sourced and renewable. Wood is a renewable resource, a clean energy source, and a sustainable – and biodegradable – alternative to single-use plastics.