“It’s time to turn this environmental advantage into an economic and jobs advantage” says FPAC’s Nighbor
Earlier today, Governor General Julie Payette delivered the Liberal government’s throne speech, laying out the federal government’s priorities for the upcoming session of Parliament.
Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) welcomed the federal government recognizing the role that Canadian forestry workers and forest products play in lowering carbon emissions.
The following is a statement from FPAC President and CEO Derek Nighbor:
“Canada is home to less than 2% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and almost 10% of the world’s forests. Our country is incredibly well-positioned to better leverage our world-leading sustainable forestry practices and Made in Canada forest products to create not only a lower carbon economy, but also drive much-needed economic recovery in rural and northern Canada.
In the face of the biggest health and economic crisis of our lifetimes, we have a window of opportunity here to develop a long-term plan to accelerate innovation in the forest bioeconomy and forestry clean tech, make more forest-based products here at home, expand export markets, build bigger and better with Canadian wood, keep communities safer from fire, and get more Canadians working.
We are proud to be recognized for our leadership in reducing carbon and sustainably managing our most precious renewable resource. It’s time to turn this environmental advantage into an economic and jobs advantage. We call on the government to work with us so we can make this happen.”
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FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. The $73.6-billion-a-year forest products industry represents 12 per cent of Canada’s manufacturing GDP and is one of Canada’s largest employers operating in over 600 communities, providing 230,000 direct jobs, and over 600,000 indirect jobs across the country.
For more information contact:
Kerry Patterson-Baker
Vice President, Communications
e : kpatterson-baker@fpac.ca
t : 613-563-1441 ext. 314
Follow us on Twitter: @FPAC_APFC
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