What happens to forestry jobs in Ontario if new lands are protected?
It is possible to protect new areas and keep forestry jobs at current levels – or even increase the number of jobs. Employment in the forest industry would increase if we encouraged investment in industries that add value to wood harvested in Ontario, and reward companies that employ a higher proportion of people for the wood they cut with larger forest licences. British Columbia is already implementing these strategies. If more forests are cut on public lands, will more people have jobs? No. The increasing mechanization of the forest industry means there is no direct positive relationship between the number of jobs and the amount of forest harvested. For example, between 1989 and 1994, employment in the forest industry dropped by 24% while the amount of wood harvested went up by 15%. In addition, the expansion of logging into wild areas will cause job losses in the remote tourism industry that depends on pristine conditions. How much money do parks and tourism add to our economy? Tour
