• Northern Ontario is home to 16 of 33 pulp and paper mills, and 24 of 25 principal sawmills.
• There are three forest industry centres: Thunder Bay, Cochrane and Kenora
• Total forest area covers about 690,000 square kilometres (266,000 square miles) — an area as big as North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan combined
• Ontario's forests make up two-thirds of the province's total area, 17% of Canada’s forests and 2% of the world’s forests
• Ontario has been recognized for meeting international standards for sustainability and environmental protection

• The forest products industry in Ontario is a major contributor to the North's economy
  • employs at least 20% of the labour force in as many as 50 communities
  • nearly 1/3 of northern communities are highly dependent on the forest industry

• $1.4 billion has been spent on major capital improvements in the Ontario forest industry since 1995. This includes:
  • environmental controls
  • effluent treatment facilities
  • mill machinery upgrades to improve quality and energy efficiency

Ontario's forest products industry can only continue to grow:

• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicts a 56% increase in global industrial timbre demand between 1993 & 2010
• Demand for paper & pulp is expected to outstrip supply despite global increases in capacity
• Ontario North's high quality softwood fibres help solidify its position as a leader in the industry