The stage has been set for an oriented strand board (OSB) mill to begin construction in Prince Albert.
Premier Scott Moe announced Thursday afternoon that the province has allocated nearly 1.2 million cubic metres of timber to One Sky Forest Products.
“This allocation positions the industry to meet that growth target, working with Indigenous businesses and creating jobs for northern residents, further protecting and promoting Saskatchewan,” said Moe.
One Sky was formed in 2020 by Montreal Lake Business Ventures, Meadow Lake Tribal Council, Big River First Nation and Tatanka Oyate Holdings, who brought in Peak Renewables Ltd. – a British Columbia forest products company – as an industry shareholder.
“Thanks to the allocation of timber from the Saskatchewan government, One Sky is pleased to proceed with our OSB project in Prince Albert,” One Sky Forest Products Chairman Brian Fehr said. “We have work left to do before we can start construction and look forward to continuing to advance this project with our Indigenous partners, the community of Prince Albert, and the Government of Saskatchewan.”
The OSB plant, which was originally announced in 2021, will share a site with the Paper Excellence pulp mill.
The OSB plant will be located alongside the Prince Albert pulp mill. (File photo/paNOW)OSB is an engineered wood panel, similar to plywood and is commonly used in home construction for roof, wall and floor sheathing. Construction on the $400 million plant is anticipated to begin in 2025 and open in 2027. It’s expected to create an estimated 800 direct and indirect jobs.
Moe said the province set the target of doubling the size of the forestry sector by 2030 and encouraging Indigenous participation as part of Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan. Indigenous Forestry Investments (IFI) will partner with One Sky on this project. IFI was formed by the Indigenous shareholders to provide ‘one unified voice’ for the communities they represent, as well as provide clarity when seeking additional investors.
“Ownership means we will benefit from the wealth generated, create careers for our people, and involve our businesses in the supply chain,” Indigenous Forestry Investments Board of Directors Chair Gary Daniels said.
According to the government, Saskatchewan is leading the country in Indigenous involvement in the forestry industry. Currently 32 per cent of the timber supply is allocated to Indigenous companies and 27 per cent of forestry sector workers are Indigenous which the government said is ‘by far the highest percentages in Canada.’
The forestry sector is the second largest industry in the north after mining.
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