On June 13 the Transition Accelerator, a pan-Canada charity that helps build pathways to a more sustainable future, unveiled  The Mass Timber Roadmap on Parliament Hill. The comprehensive report outlines an ambitious and strategic vision for the future of mass timber in Canada and its potential to transform green construction and drive economic growth across the country.

The Transition Accelerator released The Mass Timber Roadmap (the Roadmap) in partnership with Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), Canadian Wood Council (CWC), and Energy Futures Lab (EFL). The Roadmap comes after more than a decade of collaborative efforts to unlock and demonstrate potential of mass timber and lays out a plan to increase the mass timber market – both domestic and exports – to $1.2 billion by 2030 and to $2.4 billion by 2035.

The ambitious growth aligns with increasing market demand in North America and around the world. According to the Roadmap, Canada has a unique opportunity leverage the power of mass timber solutions to accelerate the construction of residential and commercial structures at greater speeds, with lower costs, and with a lighter carbon footprint; all while capturing a share of a rapidly growing global market.

Achieving targets laid out in the Roadmap will require coordinated efforts across three critical action areas, including:

1. Public-Private Collaboration  A partnership between public and private sectors to develop and advance a comprehensive policy package that will enhance the value of Canada’s forest resources while building domestic capacity along the supply chain.

2. Standardization  The standardization of building archetypes, wood specifications, and connectors throughout the supply chain to streamline processes and reduce costs.

3. Skills Development  The implementation of a robust skill development plan that encompasses all aspects of the supply chain is essential to support the sector’s growth.

“The mass timber sector provides a perfect example of how Canada can add value to its primary resources through innovative technologies and advanced skills,” said
Derek Eaton, Director of Future Economy at the Transition Accelerator. “If we act strategically and quickly, we have the opportunity to build an industry that reduces emissions, addresses urgent needs, and positions Canada to win in emerging global value chains.”

The Transition Accelerator supports Canada’s transition to a net-zero future while solving societal challenges. It does this by working with innovative groups to create visions of what a socially and economically desirable net zero future will look like and build out transition pathways that will enable Canada to get there. Learn more at www.transitionaccelerator.ca.

The Forest Products Association of Canada provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, paper, and wood-based bioproducts producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. FPAC and its members are committed to collaborating with Indigenous leaders, federal and provincial governments, labour partners, community groups, and other rightsholders and stakeholders to secure and advance the sector’s environmental, social, and economic potential for the long-term. Learn more at www.fpac.ca.

The Canadian Wood Council is Canada’s unifying voice for the wood products industry. CWC’s members represent hundreds of manufacturers across the country. The organization’s mission is to support our members by accelerating market demand for wood products and championing responsible leadership through excellence in codes, standards, and regulations. Learn more at www.cwc.ca.

The Energy Futures Lab empowers communities and change-makers to work across divides and create the energy system of tomorrow, together The organization is an Alberta-based coalition of diverse innovators and leading organizations working to accelerate the transition to the energy system the future requires of us. Learn more
at www.energyfutureslab.com.