An MPP is optimistic that his private member’s bill can help out the region’s forestry sector.
Bill Mauro (Lib., Thunder Bay-Atikokan) tabled the Ontario’s Wood First Act Wednesday afternoon. The act would allow for wood-framed buildings up to six storeys, which is currently at four under the Ontario Building Code. It would also promote using wood as the primary building material in any building that receives provincial funding.
While Mauro said he would have liked to have the act state Ontario or Canadian wood be used, that would conflict with trade law.
“We can’t prescribe it as much as we’d like to,” he said.
But with the decline of the province’s forestry sector, any little bit could help.
“Anything that we can do to put a bit of wind in the sails of the industry would be great,” Mauro said.
Mauro is hoping that his bill gets support, especially from Northern MPPs. The bill will be debated April 19.
