As a result of their deliberations, committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That the Government of Canada work with the forest industry, research and educational institutions, Indigenous governments and communities, provincial and territorial governments, municipalities and communities located in forested areas to help maintain or enhance sustainably developed and healthy Canadian forests by:

• supporting research and development on forest ecosystems and the various species of trees and their resilience to climate change, based on the latest scientific data and the knowledge of Indigenous peoples;
• increasing the budgets for basic research and development in the forestry industry, particularly for bioproducts, construction and sustainable forestry practices, in a manner that respects the principles of the green transition and the fight against the climate crisis;
• investing in the prevention of insect pest infestations and forest fires by sharing best practices in this area across the country’s various regions;
• encouraging the selective use of wood damaged by natural disturbances;
• financially supporting afforestation and reforestation activities that reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions; and
• supporting initiatives to increase forest cover in Canada’s urban areas.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada renew its support for the forestry sector and take advantage of the great potential offered by the forest bioeconomy and value-added forest products by:

• improving the effectiveness of government programs to support the development and commercialization of value-added forest products and adjusting them to eliminate disparities that benefit Western provinces over Eastern provinces;
• improving access to government funding for the sector’s small and medium-sized businesses, including Indigenous businesses, in part by providing direct support for project submissions and expanding the criteria for funded projects to include business start‑ups and infrastructure construction;
• negotiate an agreement with the United States to exempt a certain amount of wood from trade agreements so that small and medium‑sized wood processing companies can support themselves financially without running the risk of retaliatory trade action;
• supporting the pulp and paper industry’s efforts to diversify, including value-added product manufacturing, and providing solutions that meet the capital requirements of converting their facilities; and
• increasing access to modern communication technologies for forest companies in remote regions so that they can enhance and automate their operations.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada work with the forest industry, research and educational institutions, Indigenous governments and communities, and provincial and territorial governments to develop a value chain in Canada’s forestry sector, increase market opportunities and reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions by:

• developing a public procurement policy that favours the purchase and use of low-carbon-intensity products, including wood products, and establishing the carbon footprint as a criterion for awarding contracts;
• changing the National Building Code to allow the construction of tall wood buildings in Canada;
• adopting building environmental performance standards that encourage the use of low-carbon-intensity materials and are based on the latest scientific data, and establishing the carbon footprint as a criterion for awarding contracts;
• financially supporting the transition of residential and industrial energy systems, notably those in remote regions, to low-carbon-intensity systems, including those that utilize forest biomass;
• assessing the challenges and benefits of implementing a bioproduct certification system that enables consumers to be better informed about the composition of a product and that is based on international best practices in this area;
• improving workforce training programs, including by highlighting the new uses of wood products; and
• offering more opportunities for skills training and work experience sharing between industries with similar expertise.

Recommendation 4

That the Government of Canada continue its diplomatic and trade efforts to improve access to international markets for Canadian forest products by:

• reaching a softwood lumber trade deal with the United States;
• improving access to liquidity for forestry companies affected by tariffs stemming from the softwood lumber dispute with the United States while ensuring compliance with international trade rules;
• demonstrating global leadership to implement a reform of trade dispute settlement mechanisms through the World Trade Organization;
• supporting the diversification of export markets, including through the Expanding Market Opportunities program, the Trade Commissioner Service and CanExport, taking into account regional differences and priorities; and
• continuing to promote Canadian wood products, including value-added products, among Canada’s trading partners.