Ontario Invests $9.1M to Boost Forest Sector and Protect Jobs in Eastern Ontario

New funding supports innovation, job creation, and sustainable forestry in the face of U.S. trade pressures

The Government of Ontario is investing over $9 million into five key forestry innovation and modernization projects in Eastern Ontario, aimed at protecting jobs and expanding economic opportunities across the region’s forest sector.

Through the Forest Biomass Program, the province will support initiatives that turn underused wood materials—known as forest biomass—into high-value products such as biochar, biocarbon, and bioenergy. These investments are especially critical as Ontario looks to maintain its economic edge in the face of U.S. tariffs and global market shifts.

Today, Minister @KevinHollandMPP , MPP @BillytheKidPC, and I joined the Ontario Forest Industries Association and @mcraelumber for a unique behind-the-scenes tour of forestry activities within Algonquin Park and McRae Mill.

Forestry is permitted and carefully managed in… pic.twitter.com/tW96UZiLrB

— Todd McCarthy (@ToddJMcCarthy) July 8, 2025

Driving Sustainable Innovation

The funding will support five projects:

• Haliburton Forest Biochar will receive $4.6 million to scale up biochar production used for power generation and soil enrichment.

• Infinite Carbon has secured $3.4 million to build a pilot facility for metallurgical biocarbon, a sustainable alternative used in Canadian steelmaking.

• Killaloe Wood Products is awarded $950,000 to acquire mobile equipment for expanding bioenergy material collection.

• McRae Mills receives $146,000 for equipment upgrades to support biomass processing.

• Bancroft Minden Forest Company is granted $20,000 to explore new biomass market opportunities.

Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products Kevin Holland said the investment shows Ontario’s commitment to local workers and the evolving forestry economy.

“These investments are good news for forest sector productivity and good news for the workers and communities powering forest sector success,” said Holland.

A Pathway to Green Growth

These projects not only support jobs in forestry, harvesting, and trucking, but also present new opportunities for Indigenous economic participation, carbon reduction, and local clean energy production.

“By unlocking the full value of Ontario’s forests, these efforts will benefit communities and contribute to a low-carbon future,” said Ian Dunn, President of the Ontario Forest Industries Association.

Haliburton Forest Biochar’s Managing Director Malcolm Cockwell highlighted the importance of the support, saying it allows the company to develop cutting-edge engineered biochar products that “decarbonize industrial processes” and move Ontario closer to a net-zero economy.

“This is a forward-looking commitment to unlocking new value from underutilized forestry materials,” added Daniel Ronald, CEO of Infinite Carbon Corp.

Long-Term Impact

Since launching in 2022, the Forest Biomass Program has supported over 50 projects with more than $40 million in funding, helping to make Ontario a global leader in forest-based innovation. The forest sector remains a cornerstone of Ontario’s economy, supporting over 128,000 jobs and generating $21.6 billion in revenue as of 2023.

Local MPPs from across Eastern Ontario applauded the announcement, with Laurie Scott, Billy Denault, Ric Bresee, and Megan Hundt all underscoring the investments’ role in protecting jobs, managing forests sustainably, and supporting rural communities.

“Having a home for lower-quality material is critical to the health of the forestry sector,” said Hundt. “Putting those residues and by-products to use is good business sense and an important part of responsible forest management.”

Follow GTA Today on social media for more local news and updates. #GTAToday