Ontario Investing $14 Million to Strengthen Forest Sector Competitiveness
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New digital tools will give the forestry industry more reliable data to invest with confidence, stay competitive and create good-paying jobs
News Release | May 26th, 2026
THUNDER BAY — SAULT STE. MARIE — The Ontario government is investing more than $14 million to build a modern, digital system to inventory the province’s forest resources, giving industry access to better information to invest, grow and create jobs. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario, this investment will modernize the Forest Resources Inventory (FRI) Information Management System, the essential database of Ontario’s managed forests, by replacing outdated systems with cutting-edge technology to make critical forest data more accurate, accessible and easier to use.
“Ontario’s forest sector is a key economic driver that supports good-paying jobs and the workers and communities that depend on them across the province,” said Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products. “As a leader in advanced forest inventory technology, Ontario is equipping industry with the data it needs to stay competitive, make faster decisions and establish the regulatory framework needed to support long-term growth.”
Through a strategic partnership with Microsoft, powered by Databricks technology, the province is developing customized digital tools to modernize how Ontario collects, stores and shares forest inventory information, strengthening the sector’s long-term competitiveness and resilience in the global economy. This work is a key commitment in the Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector, Ontario’s 10-year plan to defend forestry workers and businesses, adapt to global market pressures and grow long-term demand for Ontario wood products.
Historically, a forest resources inventory was produced using static, digital images stored on physical drives. By leveraging cutting-edge lidar technology, a sophisticated remote-sensing tool that measures distances using laser pulses of light, Ontario can capture precise information about forest structure and ground elevation, some individual tree characteristics and three-dimensional views of forest landscapes. This provides a far more detailed and accurate picture of Ontario’s forests than was previously possible.
Today’s investment will support the secure storage and analysis of more than 3,700 terabytes of lidar data on a cloud-based, secure data platform, more than eight times the amount of data stored in NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope data archive. In addition to supporting forest industry, this inventory plays a vital role in informing broader natural resource management decisions including landscape analysis, land use planning decisions and wildfire management.
“This investment puts better tools in the hands of the people who manage and depend on Ontario’s forests,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “By investing in this innovation, we’re giving the forestry sector clearer, more reliable information to plan ahead, reduce operational burden and make confident decisions that will drive growth and protect the land and resources Ontarians depend on, today and for generations to come.”
Guided by the Roadmap to Protecting Ontario’s Forest Sector, modernizing the Forest Resources Inventory and cutting red tape are essential to keeping Ontario’s forest sector strong and competitive. Reliable forest data gives industry the confidence to invest, create jobs and build a more resilient sector for workers and communities across Ontario.
Quotes
"GreenFirst welcomes Ontario’s continued commitment to sustainable forestry and innovation through this important investment in the Forest Resources Inventory system. Access to accurate and timely forest information benefits industry, government and the public alike, while helping ensure Ontario’s forests continue to be managed responsibly for future generations."- Michel Lessard, President, GreenFirst Forest Products
"Ontario’s reputation for sustainable forestry and high-quality forest products is built on strong public-private partnerships. Columbia Forest Products welcomes today's investment to modernize the Forest Resource Inventory. Accurate, high-resolution data is essential for both a competitive forestry sector and sustainable management. Today's investment will strengthen the forestry supply chain, allowing managers to make informed decisions on forest sustainability, while ensuring stable, predictable wood supply for forestry mills, their employees and communities."- Dan Bowes, Director, Forest Resources and Log Procurement, Columbia Forest Products
"Inventory is the foundation of sustainable forest management. Through the collection of Crown dues, our members have made massive investments to improve and modernize Ontario's Forest Resource Inventory for the benefit of all Ontarians. As we approach the next round of forest management planning, the need for the most up-to-date, cutting-edge data has never been greater. Today's announcement is intended to secure this future, ensuring forest managers have the tools needed to continue Ontario's commitment to forest sustainability."- Ian Dunn, President & CEO, Ontario Forest Industries Association
"Microsoft Canada is incredibly proud to have partnered on the Forest Resource Inventory (FRI), helping transform vast, growing volumes of forest data into accessible, actionable insights. The FRI is critical to enabling sustainable forest management, driving innovation, and supporting the long-term health and growth of Ontario’s forestry sector."- Robert Wood, Microsoft
"At Domtar we pride ourselves in sustainably managing Ontario’s forests. We welcome Ontario’s attention to the Forest Resources Inventory, a fundamental building block of Ontario’s world class sustainable forest management. The increased focus on providing timely and accurate information will help position Ontario’s forest sector into the future."- Beau Johnson, Forest Manager, Domtar
Quick Facts
Ontario’s forest sector generates close to $21 billion in revenue and supports close to 155,000 jobs across the province.
Ontario’s forests cover almost two-thirds of the province, totalling 70.5 million hectares which represents 20% of Canadian forests and 2% of forests globally.
The Ministry of Natural Resources is responsible for providing a forest resources inventory for each of the 39 forest management units in Ontario every 10 years under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (1994).
Since 2009, Ontario has invested and continues to invest in modernized forest inventory by supporting modern lidar imagery that can be uploaded and hosted on a cloud-based, secure data platform.
Investment in modern lidar technology and secure cloud-based IT solutions creates opportunities for growth and broader applications across multiple sectors, including fire risk forecasting through fuel mapping, wildlife habitat analysis, critical minerals exploration, road planning and air quality monitoring.
