NEWS January 13, 2009

Ontario is looking for innovative ways to turn available wood from Ontario’s Crown forests into new investment and jobs.

A significant amount of wood is under-utilized each year across Ontario. Known as biofibre, this wood is part of Ontario’s sustainable wood supply that is available for harvest annually.

A request for expressions of interest is now open. Reponses will be accepted until March 3, 2009. Ontario is asking companies to outline their ideas to support new investment and create new green jobs in Ontario’s bioeconomy and value-added manufacturing sectors. The results of the expression of interest will also help the ministry determine the volume of wood that could be included in the process.

Following a review of the submissions, the ministry will determine appropriate next steps, which could include a wood supply competitive process.

QUOTES

“Ontario companies are among the most innovative in the world. I know they will respond to this challenge with new, exciting ideas that will benefit the forest sector and the communities that depend on it,” said Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield.

QUICK FACTS

·This unused wood comes from tree tops and limbs, trees that currently aren’t marketable as traditional forest products and trees salvaged after being damaged by fire, wind or other types of damage.

LEARN MORE

·Read the Request for Expressions of Interest at (ontario.ca/forests).

·Read Ontario’s Forest Biofibre Policy on Allocation and Use