Hon. Jim Quinn moved third reading of Bill S-222, An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood), as amended.

He said: Honourable senators, I rise today to carry the privilege of sponsoring a bill from our retired colleague Senator Griffin. Her hope was that this bill could go through third reading and be passed expeditiously to the other place before we rise for the summer. As this chamber is very familiar with this bill, I will be brief with my comments.

Bill S-222 was amended in committee to ensure alignment with legislative terminology in the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act by using the words “shall consider” — rather than “must consider” — the use of materials that may potentially reduce the release of greenhouse gases, including wood, for the purpose of procurement projects under Public Services and Procurement Canada. Requiring the government to consider the use of wood is a small way to address climate change while embracing and promoting economic growth in Canada’s forestry sector.

Let me be clear that the wood I am referring to is engineered wood, also known as mass timber. Research by the National Research Council Canada has proven that mass timber construction is no more flammable than concrete or steel construction.

I was pleased to hear witnesses from J.D. Irving, Limited and Wood Research and Development testify that, beyond the use of capturing carbon, the use of mass timber structures can also be helpful to provincial and territorial economies, and — to be specific — in the use of value-added wood products.

Canada is fortunate to have a nearly limitless supply of forestry products that could be used for mass timber construction. As of 2022, according to the federal government’s 2021 report The State of Mass Timber in Canada, there are presently 593 mass timber construction projects completed across the country, with another 74 under construction and 35 proposed. These structures cover all regions of our country, from sea to sea to sea.

Since the age of the construction of wooden ships in the Napoleonic Wars, New Brunswick timber has been part of the rich fabric of my province. Covered wooden bridges — most famously in Hartland — not only link two sides of a river together, they also serve as a link to our past. We heard in committee that Wood Research and Development is designing mass timber bridges to replace steel structures. This highlights a degree of innovation that extends the use of wood beyond large buildings.

It is my hope that for projects in New Brunswick with Public Services and Procurement Canada, the establishment of new mass timber bridges can restore the use of a bountiful and environmentally sustainable natural resource that has been intrinsically linked to New Brunswick. This approach is also important in other provinces across Canada where forestry industries form an important part of creating jobs and growing our economy.

I understand that some senators on the committee expressed concerns with respect to fire safety and related matters. They correctly identified that the use of fire suppression needs to be included in design specifications, and that the National Building Code should be mindful of the flammability and toxicity of any and all new building materials and treatments, including engineered wood products.

Honourable senators, the National Fire Code of Canada 2020, which was published this year, contains changes to address fire safety during the construction of encapsulated mass timber buildings. This highlights that it is clear that experts are aware of potential issues respecting fire safety in mass timber construction. I wish to remind honourable colleagues that there is no requirement for Public Services and Procurement Canada to use wood as other building materials can still be used.

Bill S-222 provides for a small but important change in terms of how Canadians can utilize a natural resource that has tremendous environmental and economic benefits to the country. It is my hope that provincial governments, including the Government of New Brunswick, will adopt similar procurement requirements to expand the use of mass timber structures for provincial infrastructure projects. Further, it is my hope that this policy change will restore the use of a natural resource commodity that not only has an important historical legacy in New Brunswick and other provinces, but that is also an important pillar in our local, provincial and national economies.

I would like to thank all who assisted in getting the bill to this stage. On behalf of Diane Griffin, I thank you.

(On motion of Senator Martin, debate adjourned.)

On the Order:

Resuming debate on the motion of the Honourable Senator Black, seconded by the Honourable Senator Downe, for the third reading of Bill S-227, An Act to establish Food Day in Canada.