Canadian Forest Service links

Forest industry in Canada

• Economic benefits and forest products
• Structure of the forest industry
• Labour unions
• Associations
• Research and development

The products and economic benefits that flow from the forest industry are an integral part of our daily lives and the national economy. 

Economic benefits 

In 2006, the forest industry contributed 2.7 percent to Canada’s gross domestic product. It is especially important in the more than 300 rural and remote communities that depend on the forest industry for at least 50 percent of their income. In 2007, the forest industry was worth $78.3 billion and contributed $23.4 billion to Canada’s trade balance. It employs 746 700 people—294 100 in direct jobs (1.7 percent of Canada’s total employment) and 452 600 in indirect and induced jobs. The direct jobs are spread across the country but are located primarily in British Columbia (84 300), Quebec (83 100) and Ontario (66 800).

Forest products

The forest industry produces a range of products such as dimensional lumber, wood pulp, paper and value-added products, and helps to support a variety of service-based industries. Canada is the world’s largest exporter of forest products, accounting for 15.9 percent of the world trade. The major contributors are softwood lumber, newsprint and wood pulp. In 2007, the total value of Canadian forest-product exports was $33.5 billion. British Columbia accounted for $12.1 billion (36 percent); Quebec, $9.5 billion (28.4 percent); Ontario, $5.7 billion (17.0 percent); and other provinces, $6.2 billion (18.5 percent). The United States is by far Canada’s biggest market for forest products. In 2007, it accounted for $24.7 billion of Canada’s forest exports, followed by the European Union ($2.2 billion), China ($1.7 billion) and Japan ($1.5 billion). The forest also provides non-timber forest products such as maple sap, wild berries and medicines.

Non-timber products and value-added products make up an increasing share of Canada’s forest exports and are a growing part of the forest sector’s economic future.

Source: Canada's Forests