Association
To date, Ontario’s presence on the world stage has not been reflective of the true size of Ontario’s industry. Ontario lags significantly behind Canada’s other two major provinces involved in wood export – Quebec and B.C. – both of which boast industry associations that are well established, well funded, and widely supported by industry in their respective provinces.
Support for the OWPEA creates an equal playing field among Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec in terms of wood export organizations. The OWPEA is committed to becoming the international vehicle for Ontario companies in the value-added wood and lumber sector. This will enable Ontario to join British Columbia and Quebec in supporting and promoting a wood export industry association that is active, successful, and professional and directly promotes the interests of Ontario companies on the world stage.
The OWPEA’s Strategic Partners will be key players in diversifying Ontario forest products and wood products manufacturers into international markets where there is significant, proven demand for Ontario value-added wood products and lumber. The Strategic Partners will formally join other government members in a mandate to diversify Ontario’s exports and grow market share overseas and in the United States.
Northern Ontario
The Strategic Partners’ support will create a direct, sustainable, long-term benefit for the suffering northern Ontario value-added wood and lumber industry by presenting the international option to industry members and will assist the industry in identifying opportunities to modernize, re-tool, diversify and promote itself around the world in key, targeted areas to win and secure overseas sales contracts.
The OWPEA will increase coherency and create stronger bonds between northern Ontario value-added lumber suppliers and the value-added wood manufacturers in southern Ontario. A strong supply chain relationship exists between the two regions, but the association will bring members of the two groups together formally, so that they can work more closely together to achieve common goals, increase sales, and bring innovation to the industry.
