Ontario Construction Report staff writer
The Ontario government has released a new plan aimed at increasing the use and manufacturing of advanced wood construction materials, including prefabricated and modular mass timber products.
The Advanced Wood Construction Action Plan outlines steps to grow the province’s forest sector while supporting efforts to build more homes faster and strengthen Ontario’s economy in the face of ongoing trade pressures, including U.S. tariffs on wood products.
“Advanced wood construction is a new opportunity that can help get more homes built faster and build a stronger, more competitive forest sector that can withstand whatever comes our way,” said Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris in a statement Friday.
The province says advanced wood construction — which includes the use of engineered materials such as cross-laminated timber — can cut project timelines by up to 50 per cent and reduce costs by as much as 20 per cent. Applications range from mid-rise and tall multi-family buildings to commercial and industrial structures.
The plan focuses on four main objectives are increasing awareness and the use of advanced wood construction, removing regulatory barriers, supporting innovation and investment in manufacturing facilities and showcasing Ontario-built wood construction to build market confidence
“We’re harnessing forest sector innovation to enhance how we build our homes, businesses and communities,” said Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products Kevin Holland.
To date, Ontario has committed more than $13 million to support advanced wood construction, including:
- $8 million for Element5, the province’s first fully automated manufacturer of cross-laminated timber
- $3 million for wood construction education and training through groups such as the Canadian Wood Council
- $1.5 million for mass timber construction projects at George Brown College and the University of Toronto
- $750,000 for research by FPInnovations
- $300,000 for work at the University of Toronto’s Mass Timber Institute focused on underused wood and modular housing
The initiative builds on the Forest Sector Strategy, which aims to expand wood use, grow domestic and international markets, and foster innovation in the forestry sector.
More information on the plan is available at ontario.ca/page/advanced-wood-construction-action-plan.