Mon, 21 May 2012

Trade body the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is aiming to bring 60,000 new recruits into the sector by 2020.

FPAC adds that it is particularly keen to attract women, Aboriginals and immigrants to the sector, as part of a newly launched initiative.

The Vision 2020 initiative, supported by the government, aims to generate an additional CAN$20bn (£12.37bn) from the sector and deliver a 35% improvement in the sector’s environmental footprint.

Jim Lopez, chairman of the board of FPAC, says that forestry is “an industry on the move” and that the new vision is aimed to cement “Canada’s leadership position in a highly competitive global marketplace”.

The industry currently represents 2% of Canada’s GDP and employs 230,000.