Canadian Forest Owners (CFO) appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources today as part of its study on the forest industry, which is being severely affected by the ongoing softwood lumber dispute. Andrew de Vries, Chief Executive Officer of CFO, and Vincent Miville, Vice-Chair of CFO and General Manager of the Quebec Federation of Forest Producers, presented recommendations aimed at better recognizing the strategic role of forest owners and the importance of private forests in Canada.
CFO represents 480,000 forest owners who collectively own about 10% of Canada’s forested land, but account for 20% of the country’s timber production. These owners supply wood to the forest industry, contribute to regional economies, and provide essential environmental services to rural communities.
“The lack of understanding of private forests is a blind spot in Canada’s forest and trade policy, and as a result, support programs for the sector often overlook their essential contribution,” said de Vries.
The Carney government’s promise to support home construction and diversify the lumber market ($1.2B) is a welcome relief for the forest industry. However, the government did not adopt a comprehensive approach by also supporting all the other links in the supply chain, from private forest owners to loggers and silvicultural workers. These actions promote sustainable forest management (such as fire smarting, stand tending) and would reduce the short-term impact on landowners, logging contractors, silvicultural workers, nurseries and others.
“The removal of the Two Billion Trees planting program in the latest federal budget is disappointing; we recommend that the program be transitioned to include fire mitigation and reforestation of areas affected by wildfire, ice and wind damage,” added de Vries.
The softwood lumber dispute is taking a toll across the entire sector, but private forest owners are feeling the direct impact. While the duties imposed by the United States are intended to punish perceived subsidies (stumpage fees) on public timber, they create an unfavorable environment for everyone selling logs.
“Forest owners are victims of collateral damage in the softwood lumber dispute, yet they receive no sector-specific assistance and have no access to the same support mechanisms as workers or industry,” summarized Vincent Miville.
To reverse this trend of neglect, CFO recommends, among other things, to:
- Negotiate a softwood lumber agreement that exempts lumber produced from logs harvested on private forest lands from tariffs and quotas, since these transactions are entirely private and involve no public subsidies or administratively set prices.
- Strengthen the Canadian Forest Service’s expertise regarding the realities and potential contribution of private forests, so that these are better accounted for in the development of public policy.
- Implement a personal silviculture savings and investment plan to allow forest owners to set aside income from timber sales in a tax-deferred account, thereby encouraging reinvestment in forest management.
- Ensure the protection of private forest owners’ fee simple interests during negotiations on Indigenous claims and in the development of federal legislation.
CFO representatives also emphasized the need for better alignment between federal and provincial policies, as well as systematic consultation of forest owners in public policy development. “Collaborating with private forest landowners is essential to strengthen the resilience and full potential of Canada’s forest sector,” concluded de Vries.
CFO calls on the federal government to adopt an inclusive and comprehensive approach that fully recognizes the contribution of private forests to regional strength and to Canada’s economic sovereignty.