Graydon Smith, Ontario Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, announced last week that the government of Ontario is strengthening the economy and promoting innovation in the forest sector with the creation of a new, $19.6 million Forest Biomass Program.
This application-based program will help develop untapped economic potential and environmental benefits offered by new and emerging uses of underutilized wood and mill by-products, known as forest biomass.
“This is great news for the forestry sector in Ontario including Parry Sound-Muskoka. This program will enable companies to apply for innovative projects that will expand wood harvesting capabilities, create local job opportunities, and build strong communities,” said Smith. “This is good news for Ontario’s forestry industry, workers, communities and the environment. Our government’s Forest Biomass Program will help create jobs, build local prosperity and enhance the sustainable practices essential to forest product operations.”
The program has been created based on feedback from the public, Indigenous communities and industry stakeholders, who all indicated the need for targeted support to further develop Ontario’s forest bioeconomy.
“The Forest Biomass Program will result in a stronger forestry sector,” said Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay – Atikokan. “The forestry industry is a major driver of the economy in Northwestern Ontario and plays a critical role in building Ontario. I am confident this program will enhance existing use of resources, promote research, and increase Indigenous economic prosperity across the region.”
The Forest Biomass Program will support projects to harvest more wood from Crown forests, increase forest sector job creation and regional economic growth and find new uses for wood in collaboration with stakeholders, industry and Indigenous communities. It includes four streams designed to position Ontario as a leader in innovative uses of forest biomass:
- Indigenous Bioeconomy Partnerships, to increase Indigenous participation in forest biomass opportunities and their economic benefits.
- Exploring Biomass Pathways, to help the public and private sector research technical, financial and scientific aspects of using forest biomass.
- Innovative Bioproduct Manufacturing, to increase the use of forest biomass in manufacturing, infrastructure, energy services and resource extraction.
- Modernization, to support forest sector transformation, competitiveness and participation through use of forest biomass.
Early this summer, the program will be open to applications for businesses, municipalities, Indigenous communities and not-for-profit organizations located in Ontario that have a project to expand the use of forest biomass and enhance the forest biomass supply chain.
The Forest Biomass Program will further the government’s Forest Sector Strategy and Forest Biomass Action Plan goals to build a strong forest sector via technological innovation and greater use of forest biomass.
To learn more about the program, visit: https://ontario.ca/page/forest-biomass-program
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I submitted a comment on this program before. It was rejected. Likely because I verbally ‘disrespected’ Premier Ford and his party. It is difficult for me to feign respect for a party that operates as a dictatorship (the right, unfortunately of a majority) and a premier who treats prevarication as an indoor sport. Or outdoor if he’s at the cottage……or outdoors.
It would be interesting to see the “feedback from the public, indigenous communities and industry stakeholders” requesting such a program. To know who is interested in clearcutting the forest, stripping the land and destroying watersheds.
Because that is what biomass harvesting does; it denudes the forest of its very essence. Trees, bark, brush, leaves, needles: even ‘Old Man’s Beard’. Supposedly to produce steam for generating electricity. Theoretically to replace coal and oil fired boilers. As mentioned, there was such a facility in Thunder Bay, now closed, and one is still operating in Atikokan.
But the storage area required for this biomass is enormous. And generally the temperatures achieved from biomass are too low to satisfy the generation needs, so diesel is added to bring those temperatures up. We’re back to burning fossil fuel again.
There has been no effort to promote biomass programs in Canada since about 2010, and actual electricity production using this method has fallen during the last 13 years.
Globally, there are programs in place to use forest biomass, but often it results in the destruction of national forest by offshore enterprises. Foreign businesses who could care less if your trees disappear.
And now Ontario will take another stab at a rather questionable program. Maybe our local MPP just figures that Muskoka might be a good place to put that ‘out of use’ unit from Thunder Bay. Or, it could just be something to say, lacking any real ideas.
Likely a little late to cash in on local clearcutting operation. Unless he does know something we haven’t yet been appalled with. Keep an eye on the trees in the back yard folks. Someone who submitted that “feedback” may have an eye on your lilacs and sugar bush!
Puts a whole different slant on ‘treehugger’. Don’t it!
Now, if we could only find use for the biomass being created at Queen’s Park.
I agree with Paul Gordon and Brian Tapley 100%.
Look at the development that is going on in the Huntsville area alone. Our citified subdivisions are atrocious cookie cutter housing accented by toy trees that doesn’t look like the Muskoka I recognize. Where did our council representation go during the planning?
This ridiculous Forest Biomass Program has gone too far. It’s an insult to our intelligence.If this is on the Tory agenda for our forestry then I am ashamed on more than one count that I ever supported the Tory government. Never again!
We need a change of governance right across the board.
“Forest sector transformation”? Call it what it is MPP Smith.. These terms are just biomass baloney (I’m being polite)! And forests are trees not a “sector”. Do you actually care about the environment being our Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry?
To Mr Gordon and Mr Tapley……Every mining operation in Ontario/Canada pays royalties to “the crown”. Aggregates fall in that category. The Aggregate fees are considered a royalty.
100% with Paul Gordon
The aggregate act did nothing to protect me FROM aggregate extraction next door.
It did nothing to help me use my land.
What it did do was add a tax, a yearly minimum fee, that was never explained in any literature regarding the aggregate license.
It was applied in a manner that any Mafia lord would admire.
Same for MOECC (whatever other initials they use now) Done nothing productive for me and my business.
Same for Building code overkill at the local level.
God only knows what this latest conversation is actually saying. Maybe if you turn it upside down and read it backwards it might make more sense?
I used to be “proud” to be from Ontario. I remember Expo 67 and the Ontari-ari-ario song. Now when I see a letter with “Ontario” as the return address I know two things for sure.
(1) it will start out with something along the lines of “as you may be aware”. You can be sure I was not aware!
(2) at the end of the day it will cost me money and restrict what I can do on my land.
If they visit and say they have come to “help you” you can be assured that your best action is to run for the hills or take a 20 year holiday in Hawaii. Our government’s idea of helping us is no longer on the right side of the dictionary. And they wonder how it came to be that Trump got elected south of the border….. duh!
When people realize that nothing they say is even listened to , let alone taken seriously and that there is no possibility of a meaningful discussion about the issue that is bothering them (unless your an insider who parties with the Provincial leaders … well what have you got to loose?
You work hard, pay your tax and all that…. dude your the fool, look around you. Your the sucker.
We need a big dose of reality, clarity and open visibility in our government and oh yeah contact-ability would help.
Just like Doug Ford, Graydon Smith is all about development at any cost.
Pave the greenbelt and turn Muskoka forests into Mississauga barrens as fast as possible.
Toronto protects their trees better than Muskoka.
There are beautiful homes surrounded by large trees near downtown Toronto.
Muskoka? Residents, turtles and conservation can GTH.
Forget zoning and planning rules.
That’s all just red tape.
Developers know rules will be changed to suit whatever they want.
Not the other way around.
Build anything, anywhere.
Starting with wiping out trees needlessly in many areas of Bracebridge, for example.
Leaving it completely barren for many years.
Across from Home Depot, near the new high school and most recently at Travelodge along the road where you can’t build anyway.
Disaster.
Doug Ford would be proud.
So long as it’s not near HIS cottage.
Too bad for Muskoka the Green Party didn’t win.
It was close.
Thunder Bay closed their biomass power plant.
Is Atikokan next?
Forest Biomass? another wasted program!
GRAYDON try cutting back trees
around towns, to avoid fire forest destruction.
climate change!
and stop the communist aggregate act, where
the OWNER OF ONT. LANDS is forced
to pay the gov. for each load of sand sold,
ON PRIVATE LANDS IN ONTARIO.
I am trying to figure out if Doug Ford and his government have some kind of a vendetta against forests… This is some of the worst double speak around. Basically, he is giving the green light to take more trees down and call it progress. While most of the provinces have out of control wildfires, I find the timing of this announcement ironic.