On February 18, CPA participated in a renewed round of 2021 pre-budget consultations with the Government of Canada. In this budget cycle, the government is focusing on measures to support Canada’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. CPA utilized this opportunity to continue to advocate for issues that are aligned with the association’s Strategic Plan. Government action on these issues would not only support CPA members’ contributions to the economic recovery but also contribute to sustaining the industry in the long term. CPA submitted the following recommendations in writing as part of the pre-budget process:
- The government include provisions in the Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR) that exempt secondary forest residues that are byproducts of industrial wood processing operations as an eligible feedstock for compliance credit creation if there is an existing or intended higher value use.
- The government recognize the carbon sequestration benefits of harvested wood products, including composite wood products, as a carbon credit mechanism in Canada’s low carbon economy programs.
- The government promote technological innovation and growth by ensuring funding programs designed to accelerate the decarbonization of Canada’s industrial sector be equally accessible to all industrial emitters and providing increased funding for the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program.
CPA also provided copies of the recommendations to the Ministers of Natural Resources and Environment and Climate Change following the positive responses received from both offices on CPA’s prior budget submission in August 2020. See CPA 2021 Pre-budget Submission.
