I believe it would be…

I believe it would be prudent to fully assess the Ontario forestry industry's impact on climate change. Does this industry have a net carbon positive or negative impact? Like it or not, climate change is becoming the single most important challenge for us all. Industries that do not recognize this and adapt accordingly are doomed for downsizing and even extinction.

Ontario has to recognize this and lead accordingly. Sustainable job growth and our economic depend on this. The populace will drive this change and governments can be pushed there; voted out; or get on board and lead. Your summary mentions nothing about climate change being a predominant driver requiring an assessment and strategy.

Please look beyond what the forestry industries and special interest groups are saying. I've been in contact with our local forestry on numerous items and they are taking a very narrow view of planning for the future. They see themselves as victims of current economic drivers already. They also see their way out of this as driven by mainly by more subsidies and cost cutting. Sometime those closest don't see the train coming.

I think there is a good likelihood that homes of the future will be made more from concrete, with less wood (ICF....). I see deciduous trees being cut and replanted with conifers. This is not good for climate change reductions....Can the forestry industry of the future boast that they replant more trees than they cut? Can they boast that the trees planted are as much or more value to climate change than what they cut? What about toxicity of spraying? What is their impact on lowering the forest fire risk and lowering the impact of same under the changing climate? What about the impact on freshwater, wildlife and bird habitat?...

Step back and lead at a higher strategic level, please. You may be supporting an industry that is doomed to downsize regardless. The question should be asked. What or how can these jobs be replaced? There are other fibre rich products that should/could replace forestry in many cases or even wood products. Is this a better direction for the future? As a government, you should know the answers in order to lead us into a more certain future.