The federal government is helping to bring a “novel” 14-storey mass timber tower to the University of Toronto campus, according to a press release from this week.
Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, spoke to press on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resource on Friday, and called the tower “a historic development” that symbolizes that institution is headed towards “a cleaner future where Canadian workers sustainably use Canadian materials to build more affordable and sustainable communities.”
More specifically, she said, the forthcoming development is thanks to a $3.9M federal contribution and will feature mass timber design constructed “almost entirely” from engineered Canadian timber.
“Mass timber products require less energy to produce and store carbon dioxide. By choosing mass timber, construction projects are reducing pollution and energy waste while contributing to a growing area of climate action,” Friday’s press release says.
“This project helps to expand Canada's wood market into tall wood buildings, creating good jobs in the forest and construction sectors that contribute to Canada's fight against the climate crisis.”
This project is indicative of the fact that the federal government is prioritizing low-carbon, wood-based solutions.
“From conservation to sustainable development, Canada's forest economy supports many communities and directly employs hundreds of thousands of Canadians who will continue to contribute economically to building a net-zero future,” the release says.
“The Government of Canada is supporting Canadian industries and workers, who are innovating to meet the growing global demand for more sustainable construction materials such as mass timber, carbon-cured concrete and zero-emissions steel.”
