CanNor’s investment of up to $341,600 will support the Yukon Wood Products Association to strengthen capacity, technical expertise and public awareness of the Yukon’s forest sector
Whitehorse – The forest and wood products industry is an important contributor to the Yukon’s economy. Businesses that harvest timber or manufacture products from wood provide essential goods, such as heating fuel and lumber, to people and communities and contribute to a diversified economy. Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, PrairiesCan and CanNor, announced that the Government of Canada is investing up to $341,600 in the Yukon Wood Products Association’s (YWPA) Yukon Forest Resources Capacity Support Initiative.
The YWPA is a non-profit association that has been representing forest industry businesses in the Yukon since 2007. Through this initiative, the YWPA will provide training, build new opportunities for Yukon’s forest sector, and expand its membership to include artisans, craftspeople, woodworkers and non-timber forest products, such as syrups, berries and mushrooms. It will also increase public awareness of the benefits of local forest and biomass opportunities as a way to reduce the territory’s reliance on imported goods and fossil fuels.
The Government of Canada supports the development of a local forest and wood products industry that creates and keeps quality jobs in the Yukon, strengthens local and regional economies, and reduces the territory’s reliance on importing products from other regions.
“Yukon’s forest industry includes a wide range of businesses, from single-person tree-harvesters to small- and medium-sized operations. These businesses provide good jobs and economic opportunities for people and communities across the territory. Through this contribution, our government is investing in the growth of these local businesses and supporting them as they adopt innovative solutions and further develop a sustainable forest sector in the Yukon.” – Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, PrairiesCan and CanNor