Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Minister Pat Bell is encouraging Oregon to follow British Columbia in adopting legislation that encourages the use of wood first in public buildings.
Bell helped introduce the legislation in B.C. in 2009.
This week, he spoke to the Oregon legislature in favour of the introduction of the state's wood-first bill. Oregon would be the first U.S. state to adopt such legislation.
"Government on both sides of the border can lead by example by making wood its preferred choice for public buildings," he said. "With wood used in just 15 per cent of commercial and institutional construction -- where wood is allowed -- we have a major opportunity to expand the market for wood products."
At the time of the introduction of the wood-first legislation in British Columbia, Bell acknowledged that there may be a price to pay for using wood in some circumstances, but the government was prepared to accept that.
Bell noted a significant amount of wood will be used in building the new cancer centre in Prince George.
In British Columbia, 33 local governments have already committed to the Wood First Act by passing a wood-first resolution, bylaw or policy that commits to wood first in municipally-funded buildings.
The City of Prince George is considering a wood-first zone near the downtown.
Similar wood-first legislation for federal buildings was rejected by the Conservative government last year.
