OFIA Predicting Big Things Ahead For Forestry

After years of doom and gloom, finally a reason for optimism for the forest industry in northern Ontario.
The Ontario Forest Industries Association is predicting huge growth in 2014.
President Jamie Lim says lumber companies are getting ready to take advantage in an upturn in construction in the U.S. and globally.
Lim says there is an $8-trillion global construction market that will be driving the forest sector over the next few years.
She adds by 2020 we will have to hire 60,000 new recruits.
Lim says another positive is Ontario moving ahead with changes to the building code allowing six story buildings to be constructed out of wood.
In a pre-budget submission, Lim encouraged the provincial government to maintain programs that are helping the forest sector, including forest access road programs and the Northern Electricity subsidy.