TRACYVILLE, New Brunswick — In the face of U.S. trade measures, the Government of Canada is taking decisive action to support the forest sector, protect workers and their jobs, and give Canadian companies the stability they need to weather short-term shocks and retool for a stronger, more diversified future.

In August 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a series of new measures to help the forest sector transform and remain competitive. These measures will help unlock the full potential of the industry as the federal government scales up housing and major infrastructure construction and drives long-term economic growth, rooted in Canadian resources and innovation. These measures were followed up by additional support and the launch of the Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force, which began its work in January 2026.

The Government of Canada is taking the next step to support and retool the Canadian forest sector. The Honorable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, launched a national Calls for Proposals under Natural Resources Canada’s forest sector transformation programs, supported by a $500-million commitment.

Eligible businesses and organizations can now apply for funding through:

• The Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program.
• The Green Construction Through Wood (GCWood) program.
• The Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI).
• The Global Forest Leadership Program (GloFor).

These programs will help Canadian companies innovate and diversify their production — driving domestic demand, expanding the use of Canadian wood in construction, supporting Indigenous participation and opening new domestic and international markets. 

In addition, Minister Hodgson announced $2.8 million in existing program funding through the IFIT, IFI, GloFor and GCWood programs, supporting seven projects that will help strengthen the forest sectors in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. These projects will expand the use of mass timber in construction; support Indigenous groups and forestry businesses; increase manufacturers’ capacity to add more value to wood products; and diversify Canada’s forest products and their export markets. They represent the types of transformative, innovation‑driven projects that the renewed forest sector programs will advance.

To learn more about these initiatives, visit pm.gc.ca/en/news.