Home to the world's third-largest forested area that covers 43 per cent of our country's land surface, it's no wonder that two-thirds of Canadians live in or near forested areas. Forests are inherently a part of the Canadian way of life, providing us with ample leisure and recreation while underpinning jobs and business opportunities for our families.
Like energy and mining, forestry products are all around us at any given time. Think of the paper in our schools, the lumber to frame our buildings, or the wood to make furniture and fill our homes and businesses with comfortable chairs, beds, and couches. Wood is an essential natural resource used to manufacture all the comforts of a modern-day lifestyle despite being used for similar purposes for thousands of years throughout human history.
Today, Canada's forestry industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide. It provides us with a wide range of products from building materials to renewable energy to high-tech additives for other manufactured goods. Employment in forest management in Canada is especially important for Indigenous and rural communities where forest-related work is often a primary source of income and one of the few long-term, well-paying career opportunities around. The sector is a leading economic mainstay of over 300 communities from coast to coast and adds more than $30 billion to the economy annually.
Even as the number of jobs is lower than in the past because of advances in harvesting technology and other economic factors such as trade barriers, today's forestry jobs tend to be, on average, more skilled and higher paid.
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Canada's Forest Industry…
> is "Abundant." Covering more than a third of a billion hectares stretching from the coastal rain forests of British Columbia to the Boreal forests of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada's forests account for 9 per cent of the world's forested lands.
> is "Growing." While Canada's forest cover has remained fairly constant over the past two decades despite harvesting, fires, insect infestations, clearing for agriculture and energy, and new settlements, forests globally have expanded nearly four million hectares over the past decade. That's because the world uses wood, which in turn sends a positive signal back to the market to grow more trees to meet that demand.
> is "Critical." Forestry jobs are often found in rural communities throughout Canada. As the second largest country in the world, with 43 per cent of its land area covered by forests, these jobs are often a critical mainstay in rural economies.
> is "Indigenous." Forestry plays an important role in providing opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and businesses across the country. Canada's forestry sector employs about 11,600 Indigenous workers, making it one of the largest Indigenous employers in the country. Approximately 1,400 Indigenous-owned businesses are involved in the sector, providing goods and services to the industry.
Forestry in Canada: Facts
- 23 million people live in or near forests in Canada
- Canada's forestry sector accounted for 382,000 direct and indirect jobs in 2022
- The forest industry contributed $33.4 billion to Canada's economy – or nominal gross domestic product (GDP) – in 2022, representing a growth of 7% compared to 2021
- Canada's forestry sector exported more than $45 billion in forest products (wood pulp, structural wood panels, printing/writing paper, newsprint, softwood lumber, other) in 2022
- While Canada's largest customer for forestry products is the United States, we also ship these products to more than 180 different countries worldwide
- The forestry industry employs approximately 11,600 Indigenous workers directly
- 1,200 to 1,400 Indigenous companies are active in the forestry sector
- 60 per cent of Aboriginal communities have put into place treaties, agreements and/or MOUs related to forest resource development, while 58 per cent have a contract or partnership with a forestry company
Sources: Natural Resources Canada, Forest Products Association of Canada, National Aboriginal Forestry Association
Take Action!
Forests in Canada regulate our water cycles, provide habitat for our wildlife, and are an essential part of Canadian identity and well-being. They underpin employment opportunities across the country – particularly in rural regions where, for many small Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, a forestry job can be the difference between poverty and prosperity for generations of families.
From rural economic development to housing our people, few industries are as worthy of national support as Canada's forest products sector. So, together, let's support Canada's forestry families for a better and more prosperous economy and future for our country!
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Let’s get #Canada open for business.
— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) July 30, 2024
As our largest export, natural resources are foundational to our national economic success.
It’s time to reduce barriers and welcome new job-creating-investment in our mining, forestry, agriculture and energy industries. #CdnPoli pic.twitter.com/CD6mj7lDdD