ST. THOMAS, ONT. — The Ontario Government is investing almost $5 million in a new cross laminated timber facility in St. Thomas, Ont. which will be one of North America’s first fully automated plants.
Element5, a $32 million manufacturing facility, will help support the forestry sector’s 150,000 direct and indirect jobs in the province, including about 60 in St. Thomas. It will provide an environmentally friendly product that will be used to construct buildings and other infrastructure projects in Canada and the U.S.
The government committed to increasing the use of timber in the home building industry through the Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan and the Housing Supply Action Plan, indicates a release, adding this includes increasing the use of Ontario timber in buildings, and for construction and renovation to reduce emissions and encourage mass timber demonstration projects.
The investment is being made through Ontario’s Forestry Growth Fund, which provides funding for forestry sector projects that improve productivity and innovation, enhance competitiveness, support new market access, and strengthen supply chains and regional economies, adds the release.
“I’m pleased to support Element5’s work to create cost-effective and environmentally friendly building materials from sustainable renewable resources,” said Jeff Yurek, minister of the environment, conservation and parks, in a statement. “This investment will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and create jobs right here in Ontario and in St. Thomas, contributing to our goal of balancing a healthy environment and healthy economy.”
“Mass timber construction will be an important innovation that can help bring housing to market faster, while still meeting the high standards in the Ontario Building Code to protect public health and safety,” said Steve Clark, minister of municipal affairs and housing, in a statement. “This is all part of our plan to give the people of Ontario more housing and more choice.”
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