After a year spent talking to forestry folks, the Ford government rolled out a draft of its anticipated Forest Sector Strategy, Dec. 4. According to Natural Resources and Forestry Minister John Yakabuski, the proposed strategy is geared toward stimulating job creation, promoting industry growth and access to wider markets, cutting “unnecessary” regulation and costs for businesses, while ensuring Crown forests are sustainably managed. The strategy is a compilation of the feedback gathered … during roundtable discussions held across the province in 2018 and 2019, as well as from surveys and emailed submissions. The government is now consulting with Ontarians by digitally posting it on the Environmental Registry. The commenting period closes Feb. 5. A final strategy is coming out sometime next spring. …Innovation that will diversify the forest products mix has also captured the government’s attention, particularly the emerging mass timber movement and use of lumber for construction of tall wood buildings.